kiln

noun

ˈkiln  ˈkil 

: an oven, furnace, or heated enclosure used for processing a substance by burning, firing, or drying

kiln transitive verb

Did you know?

The word kiln was kindled in Old English as a bundle of c-y-l-n. Unlike many words that descend from Old English, however, kiln is not ultimately Germanic in origin but was borrowed from Latin culina, meaning "kitchen," an ancestor of the English word culinary, which has been a menu option in English since the 17th century. An ingredient in culina is coquere, meaning "to cook" in Latin.

Examples of kiln in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The imperial kilns were likely shut down about 20 years later, following the invasion of the Red Turbans, a peasant rebellion movement, narrowing the window in which this ship could have sunk. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026

Turns out the ceramic was made by Staud herself—she’s gotten really into firing up the kiln, and some of the works were installed throughout the historic Chateau crash pad. —Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 28 Feb. 2026

Glazed pottery, both food-safe and outdoor friendly, may be picked up in a few days after being fired in one of the shop’s two kilns. —Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026

Outside of work and philanthropy, one of Kent’s pastimes was painting and firing china plates, using a kiln at her home. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English kilne, from Old English cyln, from Latin culina kitchen, from coquere to cook — more at cook

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

kiln

noun

ˈkiln  ˈkil 

: an oven or furnace for hardening, burning, or drying something

brick kilns

kiln verb