: an oven, furnace, or heated enclosure used for processing a substance by burning, firing, or drying
kiln
transitive verb
Did you know?
The word kiln was kindled in Old English as a bundle of c-y-l-n. Unlike many words that descend from Old English, however, kiln is not ultimately Germanic in origin but was borrowed from Latin culina, meaning "kitchen," an ancestor of the English word culinary, which has been a menu option in English since the 17th century. An ingredient in culina is coquere, meaning "to cook" in Latin.
Examples of kiln in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stoneware objects are made with clay that is less porous and that is fired in the kiln at a higher temperature.
—
Katie Akin, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
If clay isn’t totally dry before firing, the pieces will crack or explode in the kiln.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Poitras is still a piece of clay, yet to be fully fired in the NHL kiln.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
My destination was the kiln of the Mojave Desert and, sequestered within that immensity of thirst, a line on the thermometer: 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
—Outside Online, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for kiln
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Katie Akin, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2025
If clay isn’t totally dry before firing, the pieces will crack or explode in the kiln.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Poitras is still a piece of clay, yet to be fully fired in the NHL kiln.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
My destination was the kiln of the Mojave Desert and, sequestered within that immensity of thirst, a line on the thermometer: 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
—Outside Online, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for kiln
Cite this Entry
“Kiln.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kiln. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share