CRATER

crater

(noun) a bowl-shaped depression formed by the impact of a meteorite or bomb

Crater

(noun) a faint constellation in the southern hemisphere near Hydra and Corvus

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

crater (plural craters)

(astronomy) A hemispherical pit created by the impact of a meteorite or other object. [from 1831]

Synonym: astrobleme

(geology) 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. [from 1610s]

(informal) The pit left by the explosion of a mine or bomb. [from 1839]

(informal, by extension) Any large, roughly circular depression or hole.

(historical) Alternative spelling of krater (“vessel for mixing water and wine”)

Hyponyms

• bomb crater

• impact crater

• volcanic crater

• caldera

• explosion crater

• subsidence crater

• maar crater

• pit crater

Verb

crater (third-person singular simple present craters, present participle cratering, simple past and past participle cratered)

To form craters in a surface (of a planet or moon).

To collapse catastrophically; to become devastated or completely destroyed.

Synonyms: implode, hollow out

(snowboarding) To crash or fall.

Etymology 2

Noun

crater (plural craters)

(Scotland, Irish) Alternative form of creature.

Usage notes

This term is still commonly used in speech but rarely appears in modern writing.

Anagrams

• Carter, arrect, carter, tracer

Etymology

Proper noun

Crater

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

Anagrams

• Carter, arrect, carter, tracer

Source: Wiktionary

Cra"ter (krtr), n. Etym: [L. crater, cratera, a mixing vessel, the mouth of a volcano, Gr. ir to cook, Crail, in Holy Grail.]

1. The basinlike opening or mouth of a volcano, through which the chief eruption comes; similarly, the mouth of a gevser, about which a cone of silica is often built up.

2. (Mil.)

Definition: The pit left by the explosion of a mine.

3. (Astron.)

Definition: A constellation of the southen hemisphere; -- called also the Cup.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition