furnace

/ˈfɜːnɪs/noun

A machine that produces heat to warm a building.

Example sentence

“We had to call a repairman when the furnace stopped working in January.”

American homes have furnaces; British homes have boilers. Industry uses blast furnaces to smelt iron, and any unbearably hot room gets called a furnace.

home

Related words

boilerA machine that heats water or another liquid so the heat can be carried through a system.thermostatA device that senses temperature changes and switches heating or cooling on or off to keep a room at a chosen setting.plumbingThe network of pipes, taps, tanks, and related fittings that carry water, gas, or waste through a building.radiatorA device that releases heat, such as the part of a car that cools the engine or a metal unit that warms a room.wiringThe network of electrical wires in a building or device.mantelThe shelf over a fireplace, which can also help support the chimney structure above it.