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Crater

//ˈkɹeɪ.tɚ// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun

1
A dim spring constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a cup. It lies between the constellations Virgo and Hydra.

Noun

1
A hemispherical pit created by the impact of a meteorite or other object.
2
Alternative form of creature. Ireland, Scotland, alt-of, alternative
"I then had the two best tarriers beneath the canopy; this poor crater is their daughter," and he patted the dog's head affectionately."
3
a bowl-shaped depression formed by the impact of a meteorite or bomb wordnet
4
The basin-like opening or mouth of a volcano, through which the chief eruption comes; similarly, the mouth of a geyser, about which a cone of silica is often built up.
5
a bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano wordnet

Show 3 more definitions

6
The pit left by the explosion of a mine or bomb.
"But signalman Bridges was never to answer driver Gimbert's desperate question. A deafening, massive blast blew the wagon to shreds, the 44 high-explosive bombs exploding like simultaneous hits from the aircraft they should have been dropped from. The station was instantly reduced to bits of debris, and the line to a huge crater."
7
Any large, roughly circular depression or hole. broadly, informal
8
Alternative spelling of krater (“vessel for mixing water and wine”). alt-of, alternative, historical
"The people of those parts lived in underground houses - more of dug-outs - along with their goats and sheep and they had great craters full of wine, barley-wine, that they drank through reeds."

Verb

1
To form craters in a surface.
2
To collapse catastrophically; to become devastated or completely destroyed. figuratively
"Yup, John McCain said to me the economy “is about to crater.” You folks worried about the economy? Whoo! Not me."
3
To crash or fall.
"He cratered into that snow bank about five seconds after his first lesson."
4
To die from fall damage.

Etymology

Etymology 1

First coined 1613, from Latin crātēr (“basin”), from Ancient Greek κρᾱτήρ (krātḗr, “mixing-bowl, wassail-bowl”).

Etymology 2

First coined 1613, from Latin crātēr (“basin”), from Ancient Greek κρᾱτήρ (krātḗr, “mixing-bowl, wassail-bowl”).

Etymology 3

From Latin crater (“basin; cup”), from Ancient Greek κρατήρ (kratḗr, “mixing bowl, wassail-bowl”), from κράμα (kráma, “mixture”), from κεράννυμι (keránnumi, “to mix, to mingle”).

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