# stove

/ˈstoʊv/ (US) · /stˈəʊv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stove
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. cooking appliance

noun · CEFR A2

a large piece of kitchen equipment used for cooking food, usually with a flat top and an oven.

For teachers: an apparatus for cooking food, typically consisting of a hob or stovetop and often an integrated oven.

- She left a pot of soup simmering on the stove while she cleaned the kitchen.
- Modern electric stoves often feature induction technology, which heats the cookware directly through magnetic induction rather than thermal conduction.

Usage: In British English, 'cooker' is more common for the whole appliance, while 'stove' often refers specifically to the top part or a heating unit.

### 2. heating unit

noun · CEFR B1

a closed metal box used to burn wood or coal to keep a room warm.

For teachers: a closed apparatus, often made of cast iron, designed to burn fuel such as wood or coal for space heating.

- We sat by the wood-burning stove to warm our hands after the long walk.
- The cabin was equipped with a traditional pot-bellied stove that provided sufficient warmth for the entire living area during the winter months.

## Examples

- She put the kettle on the stove to make some tea.
- The chef turned down the heat on the stove to let the sauce simmer slowly.
- While traditional wood-burning stoves required constant attention to maintain a steady temperature, modern induction models offer precise thermal control through electromagnetic fields.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.