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Definition of mantelpiece

mantelpiece

/ˈmæn.təlˌpiːs/
man · tel · piece
Plural:mantelpieces
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mantelpiece Lexical Profile

mantelpiece Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A structure of wood, marble, or stone above and around a fireplace, often functioning as a decorative shelf.

Example

"She arranged a row of framed family photographs along the wooden mantelpiece."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mantelpiece

Word Nuance & Usage

The root 'mantel' is often confused with the homophone 'mantle', which refers to a cloak or a figurative role of responsibility, whereas 'mantelpiece' strictly denotes the architectural structure above a fireplace.

• Nearby Words

manta ray
mantaro
mantel
mantelpiece
mantelshelf
mantilla
mantis

Word Origin & Etymology

Late 17th century: formed by combining 'mantel' (a variant of 'mantle', originally referring to a structure acting as a hood over a grate to catch smoke) and 'piece'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mantelpiece. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mantelpiece
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