Plural of stove; cooking appliances that provide heat for preparing food, typically using gas, electricity, or wood as fuel. Can also refer to heating devices for warming rooms.
From Middle Dutch 'stove' meaning 'heated room, bathhouse', related to Old High German 'stuba'. Originally referred to a heated room or bath, then to the heating apparatus itself, and finally to cooking devices.
The transition from wood-burning to gas and electric stoves revolutionized cooking in the 20th century, but many professional chefs still prefer gas for its instant heat control. The phrase 'slaving over a hot stove' reflects the labor-intensive nature of cooking before modern convenience features.
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