inglenook

Thân thiện

A family gathers in the cozy inglenook to read stories.

Definition

Noun: A inglenook is a small, cozy recess or seating area built into the side of a large, open fireplace. It is a sheltered corner designed for sitting, traditionally found in older houses, especially in Britain.

Usage

The word inglenook is used to describe a specific architectural feature. It is a somewhat old-fashioned or literary term that evokes a sense of warmth, comfort, and tradition. It is almost always used in the singular form.

Examples

• The old armchair was tucked into the inglenook, making it the warmest spot in the house.
• They spent the evening reading in the cozy inglenook by the fire.
• The cottage's main charm was its large stone fireplace with a built-in inglenook.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe any snug, sheltered, or intimate corner, though this is less common.
  • The café had a quiet inglenook at the back, perfect for a private conversation.

Variants and Related Words

• Chimney corner: A near-synonym for inglenook, though it may refer more generally to the area near the fireplace rather than a built-in recess.
• Ingle: An archaic Scottish and Northern English word for a domestic fireplace or fire, from which "inglenook" is derived (literally, "fire-corner" or "chimney-corner").

Synonyms

• Fireplace recess
• Chimney corner
• Hearthside nook

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, but concepts opposite to the coziness of an inglenook could be:
  • Expanse
  • Open space
  • Drafty hall

Học thuật

Noun

1. a corner by a fireplace

Từ đồng nghĩa

• chimney corner