CRUCIBLE
crucible, melting pot
(noun) a vessel made of material that does not melt easily; used for high temperature chemical reactions
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
crucible (plural crucibles)
(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.
(figuratively) A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.
Coordinate term: trial by fire
Source: Wiktionary
Cru"ci*ble (kr"s-b'l), n. Etym: [LL. crucubulum a hanging lamp, an
earthen pot for melting metals (cf. OF. croisel, creuseul, sort of
lamp, crucible, F. creuset crucible), prob. of German origin; cf.
OHG. kr, LG. kr, hanging lamp, kroos, kruus, mug, jug, jar, D. kroes
cup, crucible, Dan. kruus, Sw. krus, E. cruse. It was confused with
derivatives of L. crux cross (cf. Crosslet), and crucibles were said
to have been marked with a cross, to prevent the devil from marring
the chemical operation. See Cruse, and cf. Cresset.]
1. A vessel or melting pot, composed of some very refractory
substance, as clay, graphite, platinum, and used for melting and
calcining substances which require a strong degree of heat, as
metals, ores, etc.
2. A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted
metal.
3. A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible
of affliction. Hessian crucible (Chem.), a cheap, brittle, and
fragile, but very refractory crucible, composed of the finest fire
clay and sand, and commonly used for a single heating; -- named from
the place of manufacture.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition