cauldron

or cal·dron

[kawl-druh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cauldron ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a large kettle or boiler.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for cauldron

pot, steamer, boiler, vessel, container, pond, pool, reservoir, kettle, jar, crate, packet, dish, storage, bowl, carton, jug, pail, utensil, vase

Examples from the Web for cauldron

Contemporary Examples of cauldron

The arts are overrated, but the real estate is bubbling like the witch's cauldron in MacBeth.
Friday Forum: What's the Most Underrated City?
Megan McArdle
February 1, 2013
But it landed her in a cauldron of controversy at the face-off at Hofstra University.
Candy Crowley Injects Herself Into the Presidential Debate
Lauren Ashburn
October 17, 2012
Rather, the concerns were about how this particular series of popular revolts would play out in the Middle East cauldron.
Israel’s Allergy to the Arab Spring—Justified Again
Gil Troy
September 13, 2012
The 31-year-old will be riding her horse, Toytown, and will use the torch to light a cauldron at the racecourse.
Queen's Granddaughter Zara to Bear Olympic Torch Tomorrow
Tom Sykes
May 22, 2012
What about South Carolina's reputation as a cauldron of conservatism with a strong evangelical base?
Newt's Surprising S.C. Strength
Howard Kurtz
January 14, 2012

Historical Examples of cauldron

The Enchantress on hearing of the crime lights the fire under her cauldron.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
There, the Dervish is thrown into the cauldron along with the magic herbs.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
There was a cauldron inside, boiling merrily; but there was no fire to be seen.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17)
Various
A warning whistle came from the sphere heating the cauldron.
The Whispering Spheres
Russell Robert Winterbotham
This cauldron fell with a horrible crash on Balthasar's head and split his skull.
Balthasar
Anatole France

British Dictionary definitions for cauldron

cauldron

caldron

noun

a large pot used for boiling, esp one with handles

Word Origin for cauldron

C13: from earlier cauderon, from Anglo-French, from Latin caldārium hot bath, from calidus warm

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cauldron

c.1300, caudron, from Anglo-French caudrun, Old North French cauderon (Old French chauderon "cauldron, kettle"), from augmentative of Late Latin caldaria "cooking pot" (source of Spanish calderon, Italian calderone), from Latin calidarium "hot bath," from calidus "warm, hot" (see calorie). The -l- was inserted 15c. in imitation of Latin.