crucible
Other forms: crucibles
A crucible is a melting pot used for extremely hot chemical reactions — the crucible needs to be melt-proof.
Literally, a crucible is a vessel used for very hot processes, like fusing metals. Another meaning of the word is a very significant and difficult trial or test. Scaling Mt. Everest with your legs tied together would be a crucible, as would swimming the English Channel blindfolded. Whether or not to have children is a crucible for many people. The title of Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible is an example of this meaning.
Definitions of crucible
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a vessel made of material that does not melt easily; used for high temperature chemical reactions
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synonyms:
melting pot
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type of:
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vessel
an object used as a container (especially for liquids)
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vessel
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘crucible'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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