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open-hearth

open-hearth

9.5
Steel that people make by heating iron in a large furnace
  • adjective
  • Archaic
translation icon : de horno abierto
  • With the decline of open-hearth furnaces, newer steelmaking techniques became dominant.
  • open-hearth furnace
  • open-hearth mills

Examples

  • The plant specializes in producing open-hearth steel for industrial customers.

  • Many old bridges were constructed using open-hearth iron due to its strength.

  • The open-hearth method revolutionized steel production.

  • Many open-hearth furnaces are now obsolete.

  • The steel produced by the open-hearth process is known for its high quality and durability.

  • In the early 20th century, the open-hearth method revolutionized the steel industry.

  • Workers at the open-hearth furnace must wear protective gear due to the extreme heat.

Surface Forms

open-hearth positive

Morphology

open-hearth = open + hearth (semi-transparent) = open + hearth

Formally clear as 'open' + 'hearth', but the term refers to a specific steelmaking furnace/process, a specialized meaning learners may not infer from the components alone.

Etymology

Open-hearth comes from the two parts open ('not closed') and hearth ('fireplace'). It named a large, open fireplace-like furnace used to heat metal, so open-hearth steel is steel made by heating metal in that kind of wide, open furnace.