cauldron

noun

caul·​dron ˈkȯl-drən 

variants or less commonly caldron

1

: a large kettle or boiler

2

: something resembling a boiling cauldron in intensity or degree of agitation

a cauldron of intense emotions

Examples of cauldron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The little guy sits in a cauldron over a fire, and your job is to keep the water at just the right temperature to keep him warm and cozy. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026

Colorfully decorated as bones, pumpkins, cauldrons, skulls, and owls, these treats are like specialty canine cookies. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2026

Since 1980, only two Summer Games have featured a cauldron lit by a non-Olympic or Paralympic athlete. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Ali’s lighting of the Olympic cauldron to open the 1996 Summer Olympics remains, quite arguably, the most captivating opening ceremony moment in the history of the Games. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English caudron, caldron, from Anglo-French cauderon, diminutive of caldere basin, from Late Latin caldaria, from feminine of Latin caldarius used for hot water, from calidus warm, from calēre to be warm — more at lee

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cauldron

• caldron

Kids Definition

cauldron

noun

caul·​dron

variants also caldron

ˈkȯl-drən

1

: a large kettle

2

: something resembling a boiling cauldron in intensity or degree of agitation

a cauldron of intense emotion

Etymology

Middle English caldron, cauldron "cauldron," from earlier cauderon (same meaning), derived from an early French dialect word caudiere "basin," derived from Latin calidus "warm," from calēre "to be hot" — related to calorie, nonchalant