crucible
noun
Simple meaning
A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
kroosuhbuhlSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈkɹusəbəl
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
figuratively
A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.
chemistry
A cup-shaped piece of laboratory equipment used to contain chemical compounds when heating them to very high temperatures.
A heat-resistant container in which metals are melted, usually at temperatures above 500°C, commonly made of graphite with clay as a binder.
The bottom and hottest part of a blast furnace; the hearth.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Formality
- Technical
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.
Used this way, crucible is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Word family
Words built from the same root.
Related to A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.
To a crucial degree.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Steel made by the mixture of molten wrought iron, charcoal, and other substances in a crucible.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: very difficult and trying experience
Related words
Antonyms
Sense: very difficult and trying experience
Depending on context
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