crater
UK: ˈkreɪtə | US: ˈkreɪtər
n. 1. A large bowl-shaped cavity in the ground or on a celestial body, typically caused by volcanic activity or meteor impact.
n. 2. A cavity or depression resembling a crater, e.g., in a surface or material.
The word "crater" (later "crater") entered English via Latin from the Greek "krātēr" (κρατήρ), meaning a large bowl or mixing vessel used for diluting wine with water. The term was later adopted in geology and astronomy to describe bowl-shaped depressions, drawing a vivid analogy to the original vessel's shape. The morpheme "crat" preserves the Greek root's core meaning, while the suffix "-er" standardizes it as a noun in English.
The volcanic crater emitted steam and ash for weeks after the eruption.
Scientists studied the meteor crater to understand the impact's force.
The moon's surface is covered with countless craters from ancient collisions.
A small crater formed in the pavement after the explosion.
The hikers peered into the deep crater of the dormant volcano.