Definition

1. Noun:
   • A corner or nook by a fireplace: "ingle-nook" refers to a cozy, often recessed area or seat situated beside a fireplace, typically used for warmth and comfort.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She curled up in the ingle-nook with a book and a cup of tea. (A comfortable corner next to the fireplace.)
  • The old cottage had a charming ingle-nook where the family gathered on cold evenings. (A cozy recess by the hearth.)

Advanced Usage

• "to sit in the ingle-nook": to occupy the warm, sheltered space by the fire.

  • He loved to sit in the ingle-nook and watch the flames dance. (He enjoyed the comfort of the fireplace corner.)

• "the ingle-nook of the kitchen": the area directly adjacent to the kitchen hearth.

  • The ingle-nook of the kitchen was the heart of the home. (The fireplace corner was central to family life.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ingle (n): a fire or fireplace, especially in a hearth.

  • The ingle glowed warmly in the winter evening. (The fire in the hearth burned brightly.)

• Inglenook (n): a variant spelling of "ingle-nook," meaning the same thing: a recess by a fireplace.

  • They built a bench into the inglenook for extra seating. (They added a seat to the fireplace corner.)

Synonyms

• Fireplace corner: the angle or space formed by the sides of a hearth.
• Hearthside: the area immediately in front of or beside a fireplace.
• Chimney corner: a seat or recess beside the fireplace.

Related Idioms

• "The ingle-nook of hospitality": a metaphorical phrase referring to a warm, welcoming place.
  • Her home was the ingle-nook of hospitality for all her friends. (Her home was a cozy, inviting space for guests.)

Notes on Usage

• "Ingle-nook" is an old-fashioned or literary term, most common in British English and descriptions of rustic or historical settings. It is rarely used in modern everyday speech.