plural craters
1
: a large round hole in the ground made by the explosion of a bomb or by something falling from the sky
Scientists believe the enormous crater was created by the impact of a meteorite thousands of years ago.
2
: the area on top of a volcano that is shaped like a bowl
We flew over the crater of the volcano in a helicopter.
craters; cratered; cratering
US, informal
: to fail or fall suddenly
The deal cratered when neither party could agree on the final price.
Stock prices cratered after the companies' merger.
Cite this Entry
“Crater.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/crater. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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