stovepipe: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  USUKGeneral Englishneutral
  • A cylindrical metal pipe used to carry smoke from a stove or heater to the outside; a chimney pipe.

  Examples

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  • The stovepipe was installed last week to vent the smoke safely outside the cabin.

    The stovepipe was installed last week to vent the smoke safely outside the cabin.

  • We had to replace the old stovepipe because it was clogged and causing smoke to fill the room.

    We had to replace the old stovepipe because it was clogged and causing smoke to fill the room.

  • The technician inspected the stovepipe carefully to ensure there were no leaks or blockages.

    The technician inspected the stovepipe carefully to ensure there were no leaks or blockages.

  • During winter, the stovepipe carries the smoke from the wood stove up and out of the house.

    During winter, the stovepipe carries the smoke from the wood stove up and out of the house.

• 2.

  USUKGeneral Englishneutralhistorical
  • A tall, rigid top hat with straight sides and a flat crown, characteristic of nineteenth-century fashion; synonymous with 'stovepipe hat' when used alone.

  Examples

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  • Abraham Lincoln is famously depicted wearing a tall black stovepipe hat in portraits.

    Abraham Lincoln is famously depicted wearing a tall black stovepipe hat in portraits.

  • At the costume party, John surprised everyone by showing up in a classic stovepipe hat and tails.

    At the costume party, John surprised everyone by showing up in a classic stovepipe hat and tails.

  • The museum displayed a collection of 19th-century stovepipe hats worn by gentlemen of the era.

    The museum displayed a collection of 19th-century stovepipe hats worn by gentlemen of the era.

  • She bought a vintage stovepipe hat to complete her historical reenactment costume.

    She bought a vintage stovepipe hat to complete her historical reenactment costume.

• 3.

  USGeneral Englishtechnicaljargon
  • A metaphor for an organizational or information system that is narrow, vertically isolated, or lacking horizontal communication; a channel through which information flows in a single, uncoordinated direction.
  • To channel information or resources in a way that creates or reinforces such isolation (when used as a verb).

  Examples

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  • The company’s stovepipe communication system meant departments rarely shared information horizontally.

    The company’s stovepipe communication system meant departments rarely shared information horizontally.

  • Because of the stovepipe structure, the project updates were delayed and often misunderstood by other teams.

    Because of the stovepipe structure, the project updates were delayed and often misunderstood by other teams.

  • The organization stovepiped resources, which prevented collaboration and slowed progress.

    The organization stovepiped resources, which prevented collaboration and slowed progress.

• 4.

  USGeneral Englishinformalspecialized
  • A narrow, tubular object or feature that resembles a stovepipe in shape; used descriptively to indicate something tall, straight, and cylindrical.

  Examples

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  • The skyscraper’s narrow, stovepipe design makes it stand out in the city skyline.

    The skyscraper’s narrow, stovepipe design makes it stand out in the city skyline.

  • The old factory had a stovepipe chimney that stretched high above the rooftops.

    The old factory had a stovepipe chimney that stretched high above the rooftops.

  • She wore a dress with a stovepipe silhouette that accentuated her tall figure.

    She wore a dress with a stovepipe silhouette that accentuated her tall figure.

  • The stovepipe-shaped handle made the tool easy to grip during use.

    The stovepipe-shaped handle made the tool easy to grip during use.