cinder-box

A worker carefully empties the cinder-box into a disposal bin.

Definition

1. Noun (technical):
   • A container for ashes: "cinder-box" refers to a receptacle, typically in a furnace or stove, designed to collect and hold cinders, ashes, or other solid residues from combustion.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The blacksmith emptied the cinder-box after the forge cooled down. (A container for ashes in a furnace.)
  • The old locomotive had a cinder-box beneath the firebox to catch falling embers. (A technical part of a steam engine.)

Advanced Usage

• "cinder-box" can also be used metaphorically to describe a place that produces or contains a lot of waste or residue.
  • The abandoned factory was a cinder-box of rust and debris. (A place full of unwanted remnants.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cinder (n): a small piece of partly burned coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames but still has combustible material.

  • The campfire left behind a pile of cinders. (Remains of burnt fuel.)

• Cinder-block (n): a lightweight building block made from concrete and cinders.

  • They built the garage wall with cinder-blocks. (A construction material.)

Synonyms

• Ash-pan: a tray or box for collecting ashes.
• Ash-bin: a container for waste ashes.

Related Idioms

• "cinder-box" is rarely used in idioms; however, the word "cinder" appears in:
  • "Cinderella" (a fairy tale character): not directly related, but shares the root word "cinder" meaning ashes.
  • She felt like Cinderella, cleaning the cinder-box every day. (A reference to a folk story about a servant girl.)