oven

Pluralovens

Formsovens, ovening, ovened

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An enclosed chamber that holds heat, used for baking, roasting, or warming food.

   He preheated the oven before sliding in the tray of bread.

   Commercial bakeries rely on large ovens that hold steady temperatures.

2. 2
   nouncolloquialfigurativelycountable

   A place that feels extremely and uncomfortably hot.

   The crowded subway car was an oven by the time we reached downtown.

   Without air conditioning, the office turns into an oven every August.

   Similarfurnace, sauna, inferno, hothouse

   Oppositeicebox, freezer

3. 3
   verbcolloquialtransitive

   To cook food by placing it in an oven and heating it through.

   He ovened the vegetables with a drizzle of olive oil.

   Many cooks oven the bread rather than steaming it.

   Similarbake, roast

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