Meaning & use
fireback
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A cast-iron or metal plate placed at the back of a fireplace to protect the wall and reflect heat into the room.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a fireback, two firebacks.
Patterns
- a cast-iron fireback
- install a fireback
- a fireback in the fireplace
They installed a cast-iron fireback to protect the brick wall behind the fire.
The antique fireback was decorated with a coat of arms.
A fireback helps throw more heat into the room instead of up the chimney.
nouncountabletechnical
A pheasant of Southeast Asia, especially the male, which has bright red rump feathers.
Grammar: Countable; often used with the or in the plural firebacks.
Patterns
- a fireback pheasant
- the fireback's plumage
The male fireback has striking red feathers on its lower back.
Firebacks are found in the forests of Southeast Asia.
Word forms
| plural | firebacks |
|---|
Common combinations
- cast-iron fireback
- A cast-iron fireback will last for many years.
- decorative fireback
- The decorative fireback featured a scene from mythology.
- fireback pheasant
- We spotted a fireback pheasant near the river.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fire plate
- A less common term for the metal plate at the back of a fireplace; fireback is the standard word.
Commonly confused: fireback or fireplace?
fireback vs fireplace
A fireplace is the whole structure where a fire burns; a fireback is just the protective plate at its back.
Practice
What is a fireback used for?
Choose one answer.
A fireback is a metal plate at the rear of a fireplace that shields the wall and reflects heat. It does not start or extinguish fires.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fireback”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.