cauldron
Americannoun
-
cauldrons
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of cauldron
1250–1300; Middle English, alteration (by association with Latin caldus warm) of Middle English cauderon < Anglo-French, equivalent to caudere (< Late Latin caldāria; see caldera) + -on noun suffix
Explanation
A cauldron is a big pot used over an open fire. You may picture the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth hovering over a cauldron of "Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog" — yum! The cauldron, while conjuring up images of — well, conjuring — actually came from the Latin root calidus, meaning "hot." We can see this root in other Latin-based languages, including the Spanish caliente and Italian caldo. In English, the word became cauldron — a creepy name for a very useful pot.
Vocabulary lists containing cauldron
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act IV
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Boy: Tales of Childhood
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
All the Rage will be "like a cauldron of creativity, because I think we've had enough", the writer said.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
“It bubbled up into one big cauldron of discontent.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
Now we are four confused people bobbing up and down in this cauldron of unbearable repetition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
But the Newcastle boss will not think twice about throwing Hall into the Nou Camp cauldron for the return fixture on Wednesday night.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
Seven leaned closer to the cauldron, her witch’s hat nearly falling in before she grabbed it.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
On Instagram, Kidman shared videos of her and Bullock sipping drinks out of mini cauldrons and walking the red carpet arm in arm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026
In Fiorito, neighbors come and go to "Diego's house," as they call it, lugging containers which volunteers fill with chicken stew or other meals cooked in giant cauldrons in the yard.
From Barron's ● Apr. 14, 2026
Shiffrin’s quadrennial struggles—and the What’s up with Mikaela? media cauldrons they’ve inspired—have confounded her as much as anyone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
Those stereotypes might bring to mind images of black hats, broomsticks and cackling over cauldrons, common in much media.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2025
The mud puddles scattered around the yard gave off steam like cauldrons coming to boil.
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
