blast furnace

noun

a large vertical furnace for smelting iron from ore, using coke as fuel: designed so as to direct a continuous blast of air through the fuel in order to obtain a high rate of combustion.

blast furnace

noun

a vertical cylindrical furnace for smelting iron, copper, lead, and tin ores. The ore, scrap, solid fuel, and slag-forming materials are fed through the top and a blast of preheated air is forced through the charge from the bottom. Metal and slag are run off from the base

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Word History and Origins

Origin of blast furnace¹

First recorded in 1700–10

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It comes after the government seized control of the company from its Chinese-owner Jingye in April amid accusations it was planning to switch the blast furnaces off, which would have made them permanently unusable.

From

The government is considering nationalising British Steel as fears grow among ministers that only days remain to secure raw materials for the company's blast furnaces in Scunthorpe.

From

Reopening the blast furnaces would require major investment from the public or private sector.

From

It is now in charge of the day-to-day running of the plant to ensure the supply of coal necessary to keep its blast furnaces going.

From

The blast furnaces were constantly fed with coal, and their closure will have more than halved Wales' industrial emissions since 2022, according to the CCC.

From

blastema blast-furnace cement

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