crater

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A large bowl-shaped hole in the ground made by an impact or explosion.

   The meteorite left a huge crater in the desert.

2. 2
   noun

   The round, hollow opening at the top of a volcano.

   Steam rose from the volcano's crater.

3. 3
   verb

   To fail or collapse suddenly and completely.

   The company's share price cratered after the scandal.

From Latin crater (“basin; cup”), from Ancient Greek κρατήρ (kratḗr, “mixing bowl, wassail-bowl”), from κράμα (kráma, “mixture”), from κεράννυμι (keránnumi, “to mix, to mingle”).

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