# furnace

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɝnɪs/ · frequency rank #12,604

## Definitions
1. An industrial heating device, such as for smelting metal or firing ceramics.
2. A device that provides heat for a building.
3. Any area that is excessively hot.
4. A place or time of punishment, affliction, or great trial; severe experience or discipline.

## Etymology
From Middle English forneys, from Old French fornais (French fournaise), from Latin fornāx.

## Common misspellings (10)
`ffurnace`, `frunace`, `funrace`, `furance`, `furnacce`, `furnaec`, `furncae`, `furnnace`, `furrnace`, `ufrnace`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/furnace