crucible

cru·ci·ble | \ ˈkrü-sə-bəl

How to pronounce crucible (audio)

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Definition of crucible

1 : a vessel of a very refractory (see refractory entry 1 sense 3) material (such as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat

2 : a severe test He's ready to face the crucible of the Olympics.

3 : a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development … conditioned by having grown up within the crucible of Chinatown …— Tom Wolfe His character was formed in the crucible of war.

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about crucible

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Did You Know?

Crucible looks like it should be closely related to the Latin combining form "cruc-" ("cross"), but it isn't. It was forged from the Medieval Latin crucibulum, a noun for an earthen pot used to melt metals, and in English it first referred to a vessel of a very heat-resistant material (such as porcelain) used for melting a substance that requires a high degree of heat. But the resemblance between cruc- and crucible probably encouraged people to start using "crucible" to mean "a severe trial." That sense is synonymous with one meaning of "cross," a word that is related to "cruc-." The newest sense of "crucible" ("a situation in which great changes take place" - as in "forged in the crucible of war") recalls the fire and heat that would be encountered in the original heat-resistant pot.

Examples of crucible in a Sentence

He's ready to face the crucible of the Olympics. His character was formed in the crucible of war.

Recent Examples on the Web The elements above are melted together in a crucible to form an alloy, which becomes the metal that knives are made from. — Popular Science, "A deep dive into how knife blades are made," 15 Jan. 2020 Long-haul flights, which used to be crucibles of noise and motion sickness, have become oases of calm and luxury, at least for those lucky enough to afford premium seats. — Sarah Lyall, New York Times, "Would 19 Hours and 16 Minutes in the Air Make Me Crazy?," 13 Nov. 2019 In that crucible, what works in practice doesn’t always translate to the games when the players play faster and try harder. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "A few opinions on the state of the Patriots," 26 Aug. 2019 The elements above are melted together in a crucible to form an alloy, which becomes the metal that knives are made from. — Popular Science, "A deep dive into how knife blades are made," 15 Jan. 2020 The elements above are melted together in a crucible to form an alloy, which becomes the metal that knives are made from. — Matt Foster, Field & Stream, "How High-Quality Knife Steel is Made," 8 Jan. 2020 The Académie Julian was a crucible of the Nabis painters, with whom Vallotton began to be associated, probably around 1892 or 1893. — Washington Post, "The Félix Vallotton exhibition at the Met is not to be missed," 26 Dec. 2019 If the Civil War was the nation’s crucible, then slavery remains its thick residue, something Homer knew better than most. — BostonGlobe.com, "CAMBRIDGE — “Winslow Homer: Eyewitness” begins with a gamut of the young artist’s fast-and-furious Civil War drawings, which were the visual meat of Harper’s Weekly’s reportage from the era. But really, that’s just curator Ethan Lasser clearing his throat.," 4 Oct. 2019 Two years later, Koné, 27, is squatting with 450 other men from Africa in a vacant school building that has become a crucible of the continent’s hopes, problems, and complex feelings toward France. — BostonGlobe.com, "For African migrants, hope and a home in a vacant French school - The Boston Globe," 15 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crucible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near crucible

cruciate ligament

crucible furnace

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Last Updated

18 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Crucible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crucible. Accessed 26 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for crucible

crucible

noun

English Language Learners Definition of crucible

: a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted

formal + literary : a difficult test or challenge

formal + literary : a place or situation that forces people to change or make difficult decisions

See the full definition for crucible in the English Language Learners Dictionary

crucible

cru·ci·ble | \ ˈkrü-sə-bəl

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Kids Definition of crucible

: a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted

crucible

cru·ci·ble | \ ˈkrü-sə-bəl

\

Medical Definition of crucible

: a vessel of a very refractory material (as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat

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