1. a large round hole in the ground made by the explosion of a bomb or by something falling from space
2. the round opening at the top of a volcano

1. to form craters in something or to fail completely
Usage: informal

Examples

• The meteor left a huge crater in the desert.
• Scientists studied the volcanic crater for signs of activity.
• Bomb craters dotted the battlefield.
• The moon’s surface is covered with craters.
• Lava bubbled in the crater of the active volcano.
• The company’s stock price cratered after the scandal.
• The impact cratered the concrete sidewalk.