furnace

[ fur-nis ]

noun

1. a structure or apparatus in which heat may be generated, as for heating houses, smelting ores, or producing steam.
2. a place characterized by intense heat:

   The volcano was a seething furnace.

3. Furnace, Astronomy. the constellation Fornax.

verb (used with object)

, fur·naced, fur·nac·ing.

1. to heat (a metal piece) in a furnace.

furnace

/ ˈfɜːnɪs /

noun

1. an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to generate steam, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc
2. a very hot or stifling place

Derived Forms

• ˈfurnace-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• furnace·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of furnace¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English furneis, furnais, from Old French fornais, fournais, from Latin fornāc- (stem of fornāx “kiln, oven”), akin to formus “warm”

Word History and Origins

Origin of furnace¹

C13: from Old French fornais , from Latin fornax oven, furnace; related to Latin formus warm

Example Sentences

“Judging by the pre-election rhetoric … the Republican team is not going to send more and more American taxpayer money into the furnace of the proxy war against Russia,” he said.

From Salon

If you’re a heating and cooling contractor and a friend asks you about her furnace, you likely do the same.

From Los Angeles Times

Finneas remembers telling the TSA story to singer John Mayer, who tried to assure him that he and Eilish were “fresh out of the furnace” and that the situation would cool down sooner or later.

From Los Angeles Times

When a new electric arc furnace is completed, with £500m of taxpayers' cash, and production returns, it will be without coal, iron ore or limestone.

From BBC

He claimed it was time to switch off the blast furnaces and build an electric arc furnace if there was to be a future for steel in Port Talbot.

From BBC

Related Words

• boiler
• heater
• heating system
• incinerator
• kiln
• stove