Hypertext Webster Gateway: "furnace"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
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 did also
the Accadians who invaded Mesopotamia.
(2.) Heb. kibshan, a smelting furnace (Gen. 19:28), also a
lime-kiln (Isa. 33:12; Amos 2:1).
(3.) Heb. kur, a refining furnace (Prov. 17:3; 27:21; Ezek.
22:18).
(4.) Heb. alil, a crucible; only used in Ps. 12:6.
(5.) Heb. tannur, oven for baking bread (Gen. 15:17; Isa.
31:9; Neh. 3:11). It was a large pot, narrowing towards the top.
When it was heated by a fire made within, the dough was spread
over the heated surface, and thus was baked. "A smoking furnace
and a burning lamp" (Gen. 15:17), the symbol of the presence of
the Almighty, passed between the divided pieces of Abraham's
sacrifice in ratification of the covenant God made with him.
(See {OVEN}.)
(6.) Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven (Matt. 13:42, 50;
Rev. 1:15; 9:2).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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 warming a house, for baking pottery, etc.; as,
an iron furnace; a hot-air furnace; a glass furnace; a
boiler furnace, etc.
Note: Furnaces are classified as wind or air. furnaces when
the fire is urged only by the natural draught; as blast
furnaces, when the fire is urged by the injection
artificially of a forcible current of air; and as
reverberatory furnaces, when the flame, in passing to
the chimney, is thrown down by a low arched roof upon
the materials operated upon.
2. A place or time of punishment, affiction, or great trial;
severe experience or discipline. --Deut. iv. 20.
{Bustamente furnace}, a shaft furnace for roasting
quicksilver ores.
{Furnace bridge}, Same as {Bridge wall}. See {Bridge}, n., 5.
{Furnace} {cadmiam or cadmia}, the oxide of zinc which
accumulates in the chimneys of furnaces smelting
zinciferous ores. --Raymond.
{Furnace hoist} (Iron Manuf.), a lift for raising ore, coal,
etc., to the mouth of a blast furnace.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Furnace \Fur"nace\, n.
1. To throw out, or exhale, as from a furnace; also, to put
into a furnace. [Obs. or R.]
He furnaces The thick sighe from him. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Hydrocarbon \Hy`dro*car"bon\, n. [Hydro-, 2 + carbon.] (Chem.)
A compound containing only hydrogen and carbon, as methane,
benzene, etc.; also, by extension, any of their derivatives.
{Hydrocarbon burner}, {furnace}, {stove}, a burner, furnace,
or stove with which liquid fuel, as petroleum, is used.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
furnace
n : an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat
buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
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