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
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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act IV
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Boy: Tales of Childhood
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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:
The Cold War poured fuel into the cauldron.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
A recent study estimated that one in two homes is "inadequately equipped" to cope with high temperatures, turning into a "thermal cauldron" during increasingly frequent heatwaves that scientists say are linked to human-induced climate change.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
He produced a moment of brilliance to send England on their way to the cauldron of Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, where they will face co-hosts Mexico in the last 16.
From BBC ● Jul. 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
The current eddied around its gaping mouth and the cauldron seemed to be muttering defiance.
From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander
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
The ceremonies, too, were split geographically, with Olympic cauldrons in both cities, with the athletes’ parade further shared with Livigno and Predazzo, national delegations divided according to where their events would be held.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 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
It includes more than 800 items, including two cauldrons or vessels, horse harness, bridle bits, ceremonial spears and 28 iron tyres, believed to have been buried about 2,000 years ago.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2025
“On the other hand,” he added hopefully, “perhaps it is not. They did say they had a number of other cauldrons and kettles lying about. I mean, we shouldn’t want to make a mistake.”
From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander
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.
