furnace

furnace
furnacelike, adj.
/ferr"nis/, n., v., furnaced, furnacing.
n.
1. a structure or apparatus in which heat may be generated, as for heating houses, smelting ores, or producing steam.
2. a place characterized by intense heat: The volcano was a seething furnace.
3. (cap.) Astron. the constellation Fornax.
v.t.
4. to heat (a metal piece) in a furnace.
[1175-1225; ME furneis, furnais < OF fornais, fournais < L fornac- (s. of fornax kiln, oven), akin to formus warm]

* * *

(as used in expressions)

* * *

      structure in which useful heat is produced by combustion or other means. Historically, the furnace grew out of the fireplace and stove, following the availability of coal for heating. A coal furnace is made up of several elements: a chamber containing a grate on which combustion takes place and through which ashes drop for disposal; a chimney to carry away smoke and provide a draft of air; another source of air supply to help burn volatile gases and hydrocarbons; and a metal surface over which the hot gases pass and which transfers heat to circulating water or air. Coal furnaces are still widely used in industry, where they are usually equipped with mechanical stokers.

 Chemical energy is transformed into heat by burning fuels such as coal, wood, oil, and hydrocarbon gases. Electrical energy is transformed into heat in an electric furnace or an electric burner (see electric furnace). Solar radiation energy is used in the solar furnace (see photograph—>), a device for concentrating large amounts of solar energy into a small area. Nuclear energy is transformed into heat energy in atomic reactors, so that these function as furnaces in nuclear power stations. Furnaces may apply their heat to other devices, as boilers, ovens, and kilns, or they may apply it directly to material in the course of being processed, as in steel production.
 

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Furnace — ist der Name mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Furnace (Indiana) Furnace (Kentucky) Furnace (Maryland) Furnace (Tennessee) Furnace (Virginia) Furnace Creek (Kalifornien) im Vereinigten Königreich: Furnace (Ceredigion), Wales Furnace… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Furnace — Fur nace, n. [OE. fornais, forneis, OF. fornaise, F. fournaise, from L. fornax; akin to furnus oven, and prob. to E. forceps.] 1. An inclosed place in which heat is produced by the combustion of fuel, as for reducing ores or melting metals, for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Furnace — Fur nace, n. 1. To throw out, or exhale, as from a furnace; also, to put into a furnace. [Obs. or R.] [1913 Webster] He furnaces The thick sighs from him. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • furnace — early 13c., from O.Fr. fornaise oven, furnace (12c.), from L. fornacem (nom. fornax) an oven, kiln, related to fornus, furnus oven, and to formus warm, from PIE root *ghwer warm (Cf. Gk. thermos, O.E. wearm; see WARM (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • furnace — [fʉr′nəs] n. [ME furnaise < OFr fornais < L fornax (gen. fornacis), furnace: see WARM] 1. an enclosed chamber or structure in which heat is produced, as by burning fuel, for warming a building, reducing ores and metals, etc. 2. any… …   English World dictionary

  • furnace — [n] heating mechanism boiler, calefactor, cinerator, cremator, forge, Franklin stove, heater, heating system, incinerator, kiln, oil burner, smithy, stove; concept 463 Ant. freezer …   New thesaurus

  • furnace — ► NOUN 1) an enclosed chamber in which material can be heated to very high temperatures. 2) a very hot place. ORIGIN Latin fornax, from fornus oven …   English terms dictionary

  • Furnace — For other uses, see Furnace (disambiguation). Industrial Furnace from 1907 A furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven. In American English and Canadian English, the term furnace on its own is generally used… …   Wikipedia

  • furnace — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. See heat. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. heater, heating system, boiler, hot air furnace, steam furnace, hot water furnace, oil burner, gas furnace, electric furnace, annealing furnace, kiln, reduction… …   English dictionary for students

  • Furnace —    1) Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of which materials were cast in (Dan. 3:22, 23; comp. Jer. 29:22). This furnace would be in constant requisition, for the Babylonians disposed of their dead by cremation, as… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”