furnace

noun

fur·​nace ˈfər-nəs How to pronounce furnace (audio)
: an enclosed structure in which heat is produced (as for heating a house or for reducing ore)

Examples of furnace in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Heating and air conditioning vans were parked on the street, and crews brought equipment to replace the building's natural gas furnace with more efficient electric heat pumps. Jeff Brady, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 In 2023 heat pumps outsold gas furnaces in the United States for the second year running, a climate win. Cara Buckley, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 The center’s recent grant will fund trials focused on creating more efficient electric arc furnaces. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024 Of the two principal ways of making steel, blast furnace and electric arc furnace, iron ore is the dominant feed in a blast furnace, scrap dominates in electric arc furnaces. Tim Treadgold, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Keep fire safety in mind when choosing the right location to house your decorations, avoiding areas near furnaces and water heaters. Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2024 If the United States is a melting pot, this is the furnace. Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024 All the 49ers could do was redirect their pain into the furnace, as athletes do. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024 Another cause of yellow leaves is low humidity, which is to be expected in a house with the furnace running. Nancy Brachey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'furnace.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English furnas, from Anglo-French forneise, from Latin fornac-, fornax; akin to Latin formus warm — more at therm

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of furnace was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near furnace

Cite this Entry

“Furnace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/furnace. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

furnace

noun
fur·​nace ˈfər-nəs How to pronounce furnace (audio)
: an enclosed structure in which heat is produced (as for heating a house or melting metals)

More from Merriam-Webster on furnace

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