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

Others have pointed out that while Gold interviews well and has impressed teams that have considered him for GM positions over the years, his experience dealing with the sort of media scrutiny that exists in a cauldron like the Vancouver market is limited. —Thomas Drance, New York Times, 12 May 2026

There's everything from resentment to jealousy, favouritism, and deceit swirling around in a boiling-hot cauldron where fair is foul and foul is fair. —Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026

Experts previously identified two cauldrons, an anchor and six cannons at the shipwreck. —CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026

The young Flyers, many of them experiencing the cauldron of playoff hockey for the first time, were surging. —ABC News, 27 Apr. 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