oven

American  

[uhv-uhn] / ˈʌv ən /

noun

1. a chamber or compartment, as in a stove, for baking, roasting, heating, drying, etc.

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oven British  

/ ˈʌvən /

noun

1. an enclosed heated compartment or receptacle for baking or roasting food

2. a similar device, usually lined with a refractory material, used for drying substances, firing ceramics, heat-treating, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to cook in an oven

Other Word Forms

• oven-like
  adjective
• ovenlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of oven

before 900; Middle English; Old English ofen; cognate with German Ofen, Old Norse ofn

Explanation

An oven is a device for baking food using heat. You probably scramble eggs on your stove but bake cupcakes in your oven. Most ovens are in kitchens, whether in private homes or restaurants. Every once in a while, you'll see an outdoor bread or pizza oven too — these are built of brick, stone, or clay, and can safely get hot enough to bake at very high temperatures. Another kind of oven is one that's used for baking ceramics, which is also called a kiln or sometimes a furnace. The very oldest ovens were built thousands of years ago in Central and Eastern Europe.

Example Sentences

Perhaps plugging numbers into this formula brings it to life, just as the baker brings a recipe to life by mixing ingredients in a bowl and baking them in the oven?

From Slate • May 25, 2026

The crust that came out of the oven was delicious, with a lovely flavor and great chew.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

You could also fill your tortillas and throw them back in the oven for a few minutes.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

Tesla’s AI dreams are still baking in the oven, leaving investors waiting.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Naomi puts on an oven mitt and opens the oven door.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• kiln
• microwave
• microwave oven
• stove