# crater

/ˈkɹeɪtɝ/ (US) · /kɹˈeɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crater
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. impact or explosion hole

noun · CEFR B2

a large, bowl-shaped hole in the ground made by a bomb, a meteorite, or an explosion.

For teachers: a large, roughly circular depression in a surface caused by the impact of a celestial body or the detonation of an explosive.

- The meteorite left a massive crater in the middle of the desert.
- Geologists spent months studying the impact crater to determine the velocity and composition of the object that struck the Earth millions of years ago.

### 2. volcano opening

noun · CEFR B2

the round hole at the top of a volcano.

For teachers: the basin-like opening at the summit or on the flank of a volcano through which lava and pyroclastic materials are ejected.

- We hiked up to the edge of the crater to look down at the sleeping volcano.
- The expedition team established a base camp near the rim of the volcanic crater to monitor seismic activity and gas emissions.

### 3. to fail suddenly

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to fail completely and very quickly.

For teachers: to undergo a sudden and catastrophic decline or failure.

- The company's stock price cratered after the bad news was released.
- Market analysts were stunned when the tech giant's valuation cratered following the revelation of a massive data breach and subsequent federal investigation.

Usage: often used in business or economic contexts to describe prices or performance.

Teaching tip: This is a common metaphorical use in financial news; it implies a total loss of value rather than a small dip.

## Examples

- 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 EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.