English Explanatory Dictionary

crater

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A hemispherical pit created by the impact of a meteorite or other object.
  2. 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.
  3. The pit left by the explosion of a mine or bomb.
  4. Any large, roughly circular depression or hole.
  5. Alternative spelling of krater (“vessel for mixing water and wine”).
verb
  1. To form craters in a surface.
  2. To collapse catastrophically; to become devastated or completely destroyed.
  3. To crash or fall.
  4. To die from fall damage.
noun
  1. Alternative form of creature.
name
  1. A dim spring constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a cup. It lies between the constellations Virgo and Hydra.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɹeɪ.tə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-crater.wav /ˈkɹeɪ.tɚ/ /ˈkɹeː.təɹ/

Word forms

crater craters cratering cratered

Etymology

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

Synonyms

astrobleme implode hollow out tank

Related words

machtesh caldera

Derived words

bomb crater crateral crater face craterform crateriform craterization craterkin crater lake craterless craterlet craterlike crater of eternal darkness craterous cratery Endeavour Crater Gale Crater impact crater intercrater intracrater microcrater Nemo Crater parking crater Pirx Crater pseudocrater retarc Revati Crater Sadko Crater subsidence crater Sunset Crater Crateris
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