crucible

noun

cru·ci·ble ˈkrü-sə-bəl How to pronounce crucible (audio)

: 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

: a severe test

He's ready to face the crucible of the Olympics.

: 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.

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 made 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.

Example Sentences

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

Recent Examples on the Web Soweto was the crucible of Black resistance against white minority rule in South Africa.

Scott Mcmurren, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Apr. 2022 Without the crucible of having to obsess about the problem night and day with tight resource constraints, no one feels the ownership and pressure to actually deliver the competitive technology.

Tom Wilde, Forbes, 30 June 2022 Think of sport as a giant Marshmallow Test, both in the immediate crucible of competition and in the broader picture of adhering to a rigorous training plan rather than vegging on the sofa.

Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 18 June 2022 Writer-director Andrew Semans adds heat upon heat in a near-surreal psychological crucible, arriving at one of those WTF endings.

Joshua Rothkopf, EW.com, 13 May 2022 Baseball’s charm – and its greatest glories – have always been tied to the grind itself, a six-month crucible of a season that weeded out pretenders and rewarded sustained excellence.

Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2022 Add to that the constant debates on which practical and affordable health safety protocols to implement, recurrent case surges and updates to health recommendations creates a crucible of challenges for churches.

Mark Nichols, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2022 It’s an arresting welcome that evokes the dislocation of an ocean crossing, challenging visitors to navigate a world forged in the crucible of the Black Atlantic.

Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 4 May 2022 Playing as a freshman in the crucible of the Southeastern Conference is a lofty goal.

al, 23 Mar. 2022 See More

单词	crucible
释义	crucible noun cru·ci·ble ˈkrü-sə-bəl 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. 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 made 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. Synonyms cross fire gauntlet gantlet ordeal trial See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences He's ready to face the crucible of the Olympics. His character was formed in the crucible of war. Recent Examples on the Web Soweto was the crucible of Black resistance against white minority rule in South Africa. Scott Mcmurren, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Apr. 2022 Without the crucible of having to obsess about the problem night and day with tight resource constraints, no one feels the ownership and pressure to actually deliver the competitive technology. Tom Wilde, Forbes, 30 June 2022 Think of sport as a giant Marshmallow Test, both in the immediate crucible of competition and in the broader picture of adhering to a rigorous training plan rather than vegging on the sofa. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 18 June 2022 Writer-director Andrew Semans adds heat upon heat in a near-surreal psychological crucible, arriving at one of those WTF endings. Joshua Rothkopf, EW.com, 13 May 2022 Baseball’s charm – and its greatest glories – have always been tied to the grind itself, a six-month crucible of a season that weeded out pretenders and rewarded sustained excellence. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2022 Add to that the constant debates on which practical and affordable health safety protocols to implement, recurrent case surges and updates to health recommendations creates a crucible of challenges for churches. Mark Nichols, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2022 It’s an arresting welcome that evokes the dislocation of an ocean crossing, challenging visitors to navigate a world forged in the crucible of the Black Atlantic. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 4 May 2022 Playing as a freshman in the crucible of the Southeastern Conference is a lofty goal. al, 23 Mar. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English corusible, from Medieval Latin crucibulum earthen pot for melting metals First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing crucible crucible steel crucible steel Kids Definition crucible noun cru·ci·ble ˈkrü-sə-bəl : a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted Medical Definition crucible noun cru·ci·ble ˈkrü-sə-bəl : a vessel of a very refractory material (as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat crucible noun as in fire a test of faith, patience, or strength soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance fire ordeal gauntlet trial cross baptism of fire gantlet baptism tragedy adversity initiation hardship tribulation vicissitude challenge grief misfortune grievance acid test privation misadventure litmus test trouble woe affliction mishap rigor difficulty mischance asperity discomfort complication inconvenience nuisance annoyance
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crucible

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing crucible

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun