Word
cauldron
Phoneticscaul·dron, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑɫdɹən/
UK/kˈɔːldɹən/
Definitions
01a large cooking pot
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Cooking
n. a large, round metal pot used for boiling liquids or cooking food over an open fire.
n. a large metal pot with a lid and handle, traditionally used for boiling over an open flame.
“The witch in the story stirred a bubbling green liquid in her iron cauldron.”
“Archaeologists discovered a bronze cauldron at the site, suggesting the ancient inhabitants prepared communal meals over large central hearths.”
02military encirclement
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a situation in war where an army is completely surrounded by the enemy.
n. a military situation in which a force is completely surrounded by enemy units; a translation of the German 'Kessel'.
“The retreating soldiers were trapped in a cauldron and had to surrender.”
“The general feared his divisions would be pushed into a cauldron, cut off from their supply lines and vulnerable to total destruction.”
Synonyms
Usage
Commonly used in fantasy literature or as a metaphor for volatile situations.
Real-World Examples
“In a whitewashed basement in a village south of Kabul, a dozen young women bustle about, stirring cauldrons of bubbling cherries and plums, and sticking labels on glass jam jars.” “The Catskills are a cauldron of class and ethnic tensions; first love is an intoxicating, disorientating hot mess.” Etymology
From Middle English caudroun, borrowed from Old Northern French caudron, ultimately from Late Latin caldāria (“cooking-pot”), from Latin caldus (“hot”). Spelling later Latinized by having an l inserted. See chowder, caldera. The military sense is a semantic loan from German Kessel; compare English kettling.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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