# crucible

/ˈkɹusəbəɫ/ (US) · /kɹˈuːsəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crucible
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. scientific container

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a special cup or container used to heat chemicals or metals to very high temperatures without melting itself.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a difficult test

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a very difficult experience that tests your character and changes you.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. part of a furnace

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the bottom part of a large industrial furnace where the hottest heat is found.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The jeweler placed the gold into the ceramic crucible.
- The intense pressure of the championship final acted as a crucible for the young athlete's character.
- Historians often view the war as a crucible that forged a unified national identity from a collection of disparate and often conflicting regional interests.

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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.