1. a container made of a substance that can resist great heat, used for melting metals or other materials
2. a severe test or trial
3. a place or situation where different elements interact to produce something new

Examples

• The scientist heated the metal in a ceramic crucible.
• The laboratory used platinum crucibles for high-temperature experiments.
• The war became a crucible that tested the nation’s resolve.
• Her first year of medical school was a crucible of intense study.
• The city served as a crucible where different cultures blended together.
• The startup incubator was a crucible for innovative ideas.
• The championship game was a crucible that revealed each player’s true character.