furnace
UK: ˈfɜː.nɪs | US: ˈfɜːr.nɪs
n. an enclosed structure for intense heating, melting, or burning materials (e.g., metals, glass, or fuel)
n. (figuratively) a place or condition of extreme heat or pressure
furnace = furn<oven> + ace<noun suffix>
- furn (from Old French fornais, Latin fornax <oven, kiln>)
- ace (a noun-forming suffix, often indicating a functional object)
Etymology Origin:
The word "furnace" traces back to Latin fornax, meaning "oven" or "kiln," through Old French fornais. The Latin root fornax itself may derive from fornus (warm), linked to the Indo-European root gwher- (to heat). Over time, the term evolved to denote enclosed heating structures in metallurgy and industry. The suffix "-ace" solidifies its noun form, emphasizing its function as a tool or container for high-temperature processes.
The blacksmith placed the iron in the furnace to soften it.
Glassblowers rely on a furnace to melt silica into liquid form.
The factory’s furnace operates at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C.
During summer, the attic feels like a furnace.
The steel was purified in an electric arc furnace.