Word
crucible
Phoneticscru·cible
US/ˈkɹusəbəɫ/
UK/kɹˈuːsəbəl/
Definitions
01scientific container
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical
n. a special cup or container used to heat chemicals or metals to very high temperatures without melting itself.
n. a vessel made of heat-resistant material, such as ceramic or graphite, used for high-temperature chemical reactions or melting metals.
“The chemist placed the sample in a ceramic crucible before putting it into the furnace.”
“The technician carefully monitored the graphite crucible as the alloy reached its melting point, ensuring the structural integrity of the container remained intact.”
Synonyms
02a difficult test
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary
n. a very difficult experience that tests your character and changes you.
n. a severe trial or ordeal in which different elements interact to produce something new or in which a person is refined by pressure.
“The war was a crucible that turned the young soldiers into experienced leaders.”
“The economic crisis served as a crucible for the new government, forcing them to abandon idealistic policies in favour of pragmatic survival.”
03part of a furnace
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. the bottom part of a large industrial furnace where the hottest heat is found.
n. the hearth or lowest section of a blast furnace where molten metal collects.
“Molten iron collected in the crucible at the base of the blast furnace.”
“Engineers inspected the lining of the furnace crucible to ensure it could withstand the corrosive effects of the molten slag.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Due recognition, however, is paid to designer Vivienne Westwood as punk’s true founding spirit; Sex, the King’s Road boutique she ran with Malcolm McLaren, was a crucible of the British punk scene.” “A new study, published in Antiquity , describes the discovery of the earliest brass-making crucibles in a southern Chinese workshop in Guangzhou, dated to the 9th–10th century A.D.” “A crucible is a container in which metals or other substances are melted or subjected to very high temperatures.” “In the Middle Ages, the centrepiece of any self-respecting alchemist’s laboratory would have been a Hessian crucible, a pot that could withstand the feverish heating and stirring required to transmute base elements into gold.” Etymology
From Latin crucibulum (“night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot”), apparently a derivative of crux (“cross”), perhaps by analogy to thūribulum (“censer”) and suffix -bulum, or from crucio (“to torment”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In Literature
The Crucible · 1953-01-22 · Tragedy
- Author:
- Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller’s 1953 play uses the Salem witch trials as a backdrop to explore how fear and paranoia can destroy a community. The title refers to a severe test or trial, reflecting the way the characters are subjected to extreme pressure that reveals their true nature. As the protagonist John Proctor faces life-altering accusations, the town becomes a metaphorical vessel where morality is tested under intense heat.
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
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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