crater
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈkɹeɪtɝ// UK //kɹˈeɪtɐ// crater
n. a large, bowl-shaped hole in the ground, usually made by a meteorite hitting the earth or by a volcano.
n. a large, circular depression in the ground or surface of a celestial body, typically formed by the impact of a meteorite or by volcanic eruption.
The moon has many craters on its surface.
Scientists studied the crater to understand how the asteroid hit the earth millions of years ago.
The Chicxulub crater in Mexico provides crucial evidence for the asteroid impact that likely caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
From Latin crater (“basin; cup”), from Ancient Greek κρατήρ (kratḗr, “mixing bowl, wassail-bowl”), from κράμα (kráma, “mixture”), from κεράννυμι (keránnumi, “to mix, to mingle”).