好词典
furnace
UK //ˈfɜː.nɪs//US //ˈfɜːr.nɪs//
词源
源自拉丁语 'fornax'（烤炉），经古法语 'fornais' 进入中古英语，最初指面包烤炉或陶器窑。
noun
❶ 一种用于高温加热的封闭设备，通常用于金属冶炼、供暖或工业生产中。可以是烧煤、气或电的大型加热装置。
“The steel was melted in a blast furnace.”
（钢铁在高炉中熔化。）
“Our house has an oil furnace for heating.”
（我们家用燃油锅炉供暖。）
❶ 比喻极度炎热或高压的环境，常用来描述难以忍受的酷热或严峻考验。
“The desert was like a furnace at noon.”
（正午的沙漠像火炉般炙热。）
“His temper turned the room into a furnace.”
（他的怒火让房间气氛灼热难耐。）
同义词:heater, kiln, forge, incinerator, boiler
常见短语
trial by furnace — 比喻通过极端严酷的考验来验证某人或某物的可靠性，类似中文的「烈火试真金」。
“The startup went through a trial by furnace during the economic crisis.”
（这家初创公司在经济危机中经历了严峻考验。）