noun
crucible
KROO-suh-bul/ˈkruːsɪbl/
A heat-resistant vessel in which materials are melted and transformed.
Molten metal glows inside the crucible.
Etymology
A crucibulum was a melting pot able to withstand extreme heat. That intense treatment of metal became an image for a severe trial that tests or transforms someone.
In context
This harsh, unforgiving environment was the crucible in which Cal Smith's character was forged.
More examples
- Graphite crucibles withstand the intense heat needed to melt metal.
- She uses long tongs to lift the hot crucible.
- He pours molten silver from the crucible into a mold.
Forms
crucible · crucibles
Similar words
- melting pot
- Often suggests a larger container, especially for melting metals.
- vessel
- A broader term for containers, not specifically those for melting.