Oven

/ˈʌvən/
A2

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

nounA heated appliance used for cooking or baking food.

Extra definitions

nounAn enclosed appliance for cooking.

nounThe heated compartment of a cooker.

nounA chamber for baking or drying.

Preheat the oven.
The bread is baking in the oven.
Please clean the oven.
Synonyms:
None
Antonyms:
None

The modern pronunciation shows a sound change in which Middle English /ɔv/ is changed to /uv/; compare the phonetic development of Coventry and shovel.

“Baby I'm hot just like an oven / I need some lovin'” — 1982, “Sexual Healing”, in Midnight Love, performed by Marvin Gaye:
“The ballroom that evening was an absolute oven. I probably perspired more dancing then during the afternoon ballgame.” — 2011, Vern Shutz, Memoirs of a Left Hander, page 96:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Preheat the ____.

Expand Your Vocabulary with LexUp

Master English words using smart flashcards, play exciting word rounds, and compete with other learners worldwide.

Built from multiple lexical sources and reviewed by English educators. Dictionary editorial policy

Browse CEFR Words Alphabetically