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

“We consider the tatara a symbol and a pillar of town development,” he told me, standing next to the flickering furnace.

From New York Times

For all its jagged descents into darkness, “Being Mr. Wickham” ends somewhat improbably on a note of storybook tranquillity: with Darcy and Wickham reconciled, like “two blazing furnaces that in time have lost their heat.”

From New York Times

And Barth explained how the exploding "coal" could be mixed in with the real coal, which would unwittingly be tossed into the furnace.

From Literature

Solar can already profitably meet Ontario households' heating requirements by replacing natural gas furnaces with solar-powered heat pumps.

From Salon

In a 2020 episode of her podcast, Michelle Obama described a hot flash she experienced on Marine One as being “like somebody put a furnace in my core and turned it on high.”

From New York Times

Related Words

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