crater

[ krey-ter ]

/ ˈkreɪ tər /

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noun

Geology, Astronomy.

Also called impact crater, meteorite crater . a large bowl-shaped depression on the surface of the earth or other heavenly body, formed by the impact of a meteorite.Compare astrobleme.
a similar depression or cavity that forms the opening of a volcano or geyser. The volcanic activity that creates such craters occurs on the surface of the earth as well as a number of other heavenly bodies.

the hole or pit in the ground where a bomb, shell, or military mine has exploded.

Electricity. the cavity formed in a positive carbon electrode by an electric arc.

Greek and Roman Antiquity. krater.

Metalworking. a depression at the end of a bead produced by welding.

genitive Cra·te·ris

[krey-teer-is]. /kreɪˈtɪər ɪs/. (initial capital letter)Astronomy. the Cup, a small southern constellation west of Corvus and north of Hydra.

verb (used with object)

to make craters in: Bombs had cratered the landscape.

Slang.

to cancel, abandon, or cast aside: to crater the new project.
to destroy or ruin: One more disappointment won't crater me.
to collapse, plunge, or fail suddenly; crash: The company’s stock has cratered 35% this year.

verb (used without object)

to form a crater or craters: The surface of the concrete cratered and cracked under the repeated impacts.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of crater

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin crātēr, from Greek krātḗr “mixing bowl,” literally, “mixer”, equivalent to krā- (base of kerannýnai “to mix”) + -tēr agent suffix; cf. crasis

OTHER WORDS FROM crater

cra·ter·al, cra·ter·ous, adjectivecra·ter·like, adjectivein·ter·cra·ter, adjective

Other definitions for crater (2 of 2)

Crater

[ krey-ter ]

/ ˈkreɪ tər /

noun

Joseph Force

[fawrs, fohrs], /fɔrs, foʊrs/, 1889–?, a judge of the New York State Supreme Court: his mysterious disappearance on August 6, 1930, has never been solved.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use crater in a sentence

Dell is faced with a cratering PC market as well as competitors like Amazon in the IT service industry.
Best Business Longreads|William O’Connor|November 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It was Jan. 29, 2010, and a key step toward shutting down Gitmo was cratering.
All In on Gitmo: Obama Returns to Fight for a Shutdown|Daniel Klaidman|May 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But Obama also inherited massive debt and a cratering economy, and  military occupations are very expensive.
A Strategist for the War In Afghanistan Says It’s Time to Pull Back|Eli Lake|May 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If the Republican presidential nominee abandons Ryan, there will be plenty more cratering to come.
Premature Celebration Follows Democratic Victory in New York State|Michael Tomasky|May 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST

One can only imagine the chaos, the cratering economy, the emergence of all forms of social disorder.
The Coming Bioattack|Stephan Talty|June 5, 2009|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for crater (1 of 2)

crater

/ (ˈkreɪtə) /

noun

the bowl-shaped opening at the top or side of a volcano or top of a geyser through which lava and gases are emitted

a similarly shaped depression formed by the impact of a meteorite or exploding bomb

any of the circular or polygonal walled formations covering the surface of the moon and some other planets, formed probably either by volcanic action or by the impact of meteorites. They can have a diameter of up to 240 kilometres (150 miles) and a depth of 8900 metres (29 000 feet)

a pit in an otherwise smooth surface

a large open bowl with two handles, used for mixing wines, esp in ancient Greece

verb

to make or form craters in (a surface, such as the ground)

slang to fail; collapse; crash

Derived forms of crater

cratered, adjectivecraterless, adjectivecrater-like, adjective

Word Origin for crater

C17: from Latin: mixing bowl, crater, from Greek kratēr, from kerannunai to mix

British Dictionary definitions for crater (2 of 2)

Crater

/ (ˈkreɪtə) /

noun Latin genitive Crateris (ˈkreɪtərɪs)

a small faint constellation in the S hemisphere lying between Virgo and Hydra

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

Scientific definitions for crater

crater

[ krā′tər ]

A bowl-shaped depression at the top of a volcano or at the mouth of a geyser. Volcanic craters can form because of magma explosions in which a large amount of lava is thrown out from a volcano, leaving a hole, or because the roof of rock over an underground magma pool collapses after the magma has flowed away.

A shallow, bowl-shaped depression in a surface, formed by an explosion or by the impact of a body, such as a meteorite.

crater

Origin of crater

OTHER WORDS FROM crater

Other definitions for crater (2 of 2)

Words related to crater

How to use crater in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crater (1 of 2)

Derived forms of crater

Word Origin for crater

British Dictionary definitions for crater (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for crater