Material used to create an engineered product.
"The factory purchased high-grade steel and aluminum as raw materials to furnish the new aircraft components."
"The furniture in his new apartment was old and poorly furnished, making the room feel very empty."
Usage: As a noun, "furnishings" refers specifically to the movable articles of furniture and decoration in a room, whereas "furnish" as a verb means to provide these items. Avoid using the singular form "furnish" as a countable object for household goods; instead, use the plural "furnishings."
To provide a place with furniture, or other equipment.
"The real estate agent will furnish each apartment before handing over the keys to the new tenants."
In plain English: To furnish means to provide something, such as giving someone what they need for a specific purpose.
"They decided to furnish their new apartment with comfortable furniture and warm lighting."
A surname.
"Mr. Furnish introduced his new business partner at the annual meeting."
The word furnish entered Middle English from the Old French furnir and ultimately traces back to a Frankish root meaning "to complete or execute." While its modern sense relates specifically to supplying goods, it originally carried broader Germanic meanings of promoting something or performing an action.