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 In Texas, during the winter months, a heat pump is up to four times more effective than a heat furnace. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2024 Recent upgrades to the property include six new high-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners, new humidifiers, a new boiler, a new hot water storage tank, $100,000 in window and door upgrades and about $20,000 in electrical updates, and the elevator was serviced and certified in 2022. Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024 These furnaces use electricity to melt scrap steel and other metals as opposed to blast furnaces, which use coke or fossil fuels. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024 Take a look → Mysterious wooden train car — almost 100 years old — unearthed in Belgium, photos show The 1,900-year-old Roman ruins included several furnaces used for processing iron ore and other evidence of ancient metalworking, archaeologists said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024 Even in the states with the dirtiest power grids, replacing your gas furnace or boiler with an electric heat pump will reduce climate pollution in the long term. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Most filters feature arrow markings that indicate the correct placement; these arrows should typically point toward the furnace in the direction of the airflow. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024 That’s because hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body to activate our inner furnace, requires iron in its construction. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024 Be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions to determine the best way to clean your air conditioner or furnace filter, but the steps below will work for most reusable filters. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 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 2 May. 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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