See Also: crater arc(medicine)
crater(medicine)
crater(dictionary)
crater(encyclopedia)
crater(dictionary)
Crater Lake(encyclopedia)
crater (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
meteorite crater(encyclopedia)
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument(encyclopedia)

crater (iou)



crater noun & verb. E17.
[Latin from Greek krater bowl, mixing-vessel.]
A. noun.
I.
A bowl- or funnel-shaped hollow forming the mouth of a volcano. E17.
A bowl-shaped cavity, esp. one made by the explosion of a mine, shell, or bomb. M19.
b. spec. A cavity (usu. with a raised rim) on the moon, a planet, etc., formed by the impact of a meteorite or larger celestial body. M19.
II.
(Usu. Crater.) (The name of) an inconspicuous constellation of the southern hemisphere, between Hydra and Virgo; the Cup. M17.
Greek Antiquities. A large wide-mouthed bowl in which wine was mixed with water. M18.
Comb.: crater-lake a lake formed by the collection of water in the crater of an inactive volcano.
b. verb.
verb intrans. Yield inwards to form a crater. rare. L19.
verb trans. Form a crater in, esp. by an explosive. E20.
crateral adjective pertaining to or resembling a (volcanic) crater M19.
crateriform adjective shaped like a (volcanic) crater; Botany bowl-shaped: M19.
craterlet noun a small crater, esp. on the moon L19.
crater-like adjective resembling (that of) a crater M19.
craterous adjective (a) crater-like; (b) having many craters: M19.