crucible

Meaning

1. A cup-shaped piece of laboratory equipment used to contain chemical compounds when heating them to very high temperatures.
2. A heat-resistant container in which metals are melted, usually at temperatures above 500°C, commonly made of graphite with clay as a binder.
3. The bottom and hottest part of a blast furnace; the hearth.
4. (figuratively) A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.

Synonyms

melting pot

pot

melting-pot

mold

ordeal

probation

proof

trial

tribulation

tryingness

well

earthen pot

meltingpot

hearth

firepot

hopper

melter

Translations

creuset

crogiolo

crisol

Schmelztiegel

Tiegel

crisol

cadinho

gresol

smeltkroes

χωνευτήρι

vuurproef

Feuerprobe

pota

χοάνη

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkɹuː.sɪ.bəl/

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”).