mantel, mantle

A mantel is a shelf above a fireplace.

• The coach placed a photo of his soccer team on the mantel.

A mantle is a cloak or covering.

• Over his fine costume, Orlando wore a mantle of midnight blue velvet.
• The zone below the Earth’s crust and above the core is called the mantle.

Mantle is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to the duties of an office or a position.

• Assuming the mantle of public office may cause a person to change.

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