caldera

noun

cal·​de·​ra kal-ˈder-ə 

kȯl-,

-ˈdir- 

: a volcanic crater that has a diameter many times that of the vent and is formed by collapse of the central part of a volcano or by explosions of extraordinary violence

Did you know?

A large, bowl-shaped volcanic depression, a caldera forms when the top of a volcanic cone collapses into the space left after magma is ejected during a violent volcanic eruption. Its diameter is many times that of the original vent. The term is Spanish for "caldron." Subsequent minor eruptions may build small cones on the floor of the caldera, and the caldera may still later fill up with water; an example of this is Crater Lake in Oregon.

Examples of caldera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Your camera roll will be filled with colorful images, especially on the six-mile Cliff Trail in Santorini, which travels from Oia to Fira along the caldera. —Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

The result of a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago, the caldera of Mount Mazama slowly filled with rainwater and snowmelt, resulting in a lake that’s considered the deepest in the country and one of the most beautiful on earth. —Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

Each time, the volcano has sent lava shooting high into the sky from caldera vents, creating a dramatic sight for park visitors. —CBS News, 21 Mar. 2025

While lava flows remain confined to the Kīlauea summit caldera, the eruption produces hazards such as volcanic gas emissions, vog (volcanic smog) and Pele's hair—a type of volcanic glass—that can pose health risks and environmental challenges. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, cauldron, from Late Latin caldaria — more at cauldron

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for caldera

• aspera
• barbera
• barrera
• cascara
• chimaera
• chimera
• cordillera
• diptera
• drosera
• mascara
• patera
• provera

Kids Definition

caldera

noun

cal·​de·​ra kal-ˈder-ə  kȯl- 

-ˈdir-

: a large crater formed by the collapse of a volcanic cone or by an explosion