Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Chimney-piece \Chim"ney-piece`\, chimneypiece \chimneypiece\, n. (Arch.) A decorative construction around the opening of a fireplace; also, the shelf that projects from wall above fireplace; mantlepiece. [Chiefly Brit.]
Syn: mantel, mantelpiece, mantle, mantlepiece.
Usage examples of "chimney-piece".
A large musical box on the chimney-piece often trilled away at the Overture to Fra Diavolo, or a Selection from William Tell, with a chirruping liveliness that had to be stopped by force on the entrance of a client, and irrepressibly broke out again the moment his back was turned.
Sir Joshua Reynolds told me, that upon his return from Italy he met with it in Devonshire, knowing nothing of its authour, and began to read it while he was standing with his arm leaning against a chimney-piece.
My enemy said to his companion that they would see one another again after the play, and remained by the fire, with his elbow resting on the chimney-piece.
He flung himself down in the arm-chair near mine, laid back his head, and clasping his arms beneath it, looked up at the picture above the chimney-piece.
However, he brought them to me the following day, and as I was expecting the arrival of madame de Mirepoix, I placed them in a porcelain vase which stood upon my chimney-piece.