kiln
kiln Lexical Profile
kiln Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large oven or furnace used for baking, drying, or firing materials, especially ceramics, brick, or hops.
"After shaping the clay vases, the potter carefully placed them into the kiln to be fired."
• verb
To dry, bake, or fire in a kiln (especially referring to pottery, lumber, or grain).
"The lumber company kilns the wood to ensure it is thoroughly dry and stabilized before it is used for construction."
Word Nuance & Usage
Historically, the terminal 'n' in 'kiln' was silent, making it homophonous with 'kill' (a pronunciation still favored by some traditional potters and tradespeople), though pronouncing the 'n' is overwhelmingly standard in modern general English.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'cylen', borrowed from Latin 'culina' meaning 'kitchen' or 'cookstove'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.