furnace

American  

[fur-nis] / ˈfɜr nɪs /

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. Astronomy. Furnace, the constellation Fornax.

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verb (used with object)

furnaced, furnacing

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

furnace British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• furnace-like adjective
• furnacelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of furnace

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”

Example Sentences

Hotter furnaces and better steel, he reminds us, produced powerful engines for agriculture and energy generation and led to dramatic gains in food production and long-distance transportation.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the steel sector, already weakened by the closure of traditional coal-fired blast furnaces, argues that more action is needed.

From Barron's

The canisters, which can explode when heated or crushed, are damaging furnaces in energy recovery facilities, where treated waste is incinerated and converted into energy.

From BBC

In this study, the researchers turned their attention to a less studied source of pollution: wood burning in homes, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, and stoves.

From Science Daily

Traders are anticipating a big chunk of U.S. production will become blocked in frozen wells when heating demand is highest, necessitating a huge drawdown of domestic stockpiles to keep furnaces and boilers running.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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