furnace

A machine that produces heat to warm a building.

• The furnace heats our house.
• We had the furnace repaired before winter.
• A dirty furnace filter can reduce airflow.

Similar words: heater

Common phrases: gas furnace, furnace filter, replace a furnace

A machine that produces very high heat to melt metal or bake clay objects.

• The furnace melts metal.
• Workers fed iron ore into the furnace.
• The factory installed two electric furnaces last year.

Similar words: industrial oven

Common phrases: blast furnace, industrial furnace, electric furnace

A place that feels extremely hot.

• This room is a furnace.
• By noon, the kitchen had become a furnace.
• Without air conditioning, our office felt like a furnace.

Similar words: oven

Common phrases: a real furnace, like a furnace

A situation or period of great suffering or difficulty that tests someone.

• Their friendship survived the furnace of war.
• The furnace of hardship tested her courage.
• He emerged stronger from the furnace of public criticism.

How to use it: furnace of something (Their resolve was strengthened in the furnace of adversity.)

Similar words: ordeal, trial

Common phrases: furnace of war, furnace of suffering, furnace of adversity