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. Astronomy.,  Furnace, the constellation Fornax.

verb (used with object)

furnaced, furnacing 

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

Other Word Forms

• furnacelike adjective
• furnace-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

He's one of about 2,000 Tata Steel employees who lost their jobs when the blast furnaces were shut down last year.

From BBC

Production ended 12 months ago with 2,000 workers made redundant after the company said its blast furnace operation was losing £1m a day.

From BBC

Talks on scrapping tariffs on UK steel are on hold, with US officials raising concerns over Tata's shift from blast furnaces to new electric arc furnaces, due in 2027.

From BBC

Steelmaking in the US is already greener than in many countries, thanks to the popularity of electric arc furnaces there.

From BBC

It's understood that a number of commercial buyers have already approached the government about taking over SSUK, which has already transitioned to greener electric arc furnaces.

From BBC

Related Words

• boiler 
• heater 
• heating system www.thesaurus.com
• incinerator 
• kiln 
• stove