ˈəvən sometimes ˈəv ə m or ˈəb ə m noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ofen; akin to Old High German ofan oven, Old Norse ofn, Gothic auhns oven, Latin aulla pot, Greek ipnos oven, Sanskrit ukha cooking pot
1. obsolete : furnace
2.
a. : a chamber of brick or stonework used for baking, heating, or drying
b. : a heated enclosure of varying construction used for such purposes: as
(1) : a chamber in a stove used for baking or roasting
(2) : a laboratory hot-air sterilizer