Definition of furnace

• n. - 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.
• n. - A place or time of punishment, affiction, or great trial; severe experience or discipline.
• n. - To throw out, or exhale, as from a furnace; also, to put into a furnace.