crater

1 of 3

noun (1)

cra·​ter ˈkrā-tər 

plural craters

1

a

: the bowl-shaped depression around the orifice of a volcano

b

: a depression formed by an impact (as of a meteorite)

c

: a hole in the ground made by the explosion of a bomb or shell

2

: an eroded lesion

3

: a dimple in a painted surface

4

Crater astronomy : a constellation that is visible between the constellations of Corvus and Hydra and that is represented by the figure of a cup

Both the cup and the snake are here in the sky. If you have dark enough skies, you can spot the faint stars of Crater the cup and Hydra the snake to the right of Corvus.

—Kevin D. Conod

craterlike

ˈkrā-tər-ˌlīk 

adjective

crater

2 of 3

verb

cratered; cratering; craters

intransitive verb

1

: to exhibit or form craters

2

: to fail or fall suddenly and dramatically : collapse, crash

the deal cratered

cratering stock prices

transitive verb

: to form craters in

crater

3 of 3

noun (2)

cra·​ter

less common spelling of krater

: a jar or vase of classical antiquity having a large round body and a wide mouth and used for mixing wine and water

Synonyms

Verb

• bomb
• collapse
• fail
• flame out
• flop
• flunk
• fold
• founder
• miss
• strike out
• tank
• wash out

Examples of crater in a Sentence

Verb

The deal cratered when neither party could agree on the final price.

Stock prices cratered after the companies' merger.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lost among the headlines and hand-wringing in media circles, though, is the fact that — to some extent, at least — craters like this pop up after every presidential election. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2024

The Griffin lander will touch down on Mons Mouton near the western rim of Nobile crater close to the lunar south pole. —Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024

Verb

The economy will plunge into recession, financial markets will crater, and the age of magic money will have been exposed as merely a fit of recklessness. —Sebastian Mallaby, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2021

Amazon Rushing home to sign for a package can be a chore, and nothing craters a day like having a delivery stolen from your doorstep. —Brian Barrett, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Latin crātēr, crātēra "mixing bowl, basin of a fountain, bowl-shaped depression around the mouth of a volcano," borrowed from Greek krātḗr "mixing bowl, bowl-shaped depression around the mouth of a volcano," from krā-, variant stem of keránnȳmi, kerannýnai "to mix, mingle (as wine with water)" (going back to Indo-European *ḱerh₂-, *ḱr̥h₂- "mix," whence also Sanskrit ā́-śīrta- "mixed," Avestan sārəṇtē "[they] meet, unite") + -tēr, instrumental suffix

Verb

derivative of crater entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

crater

noun

cra·​ter

ˈkrāt-ər

1

: a hollow shaped like a bowl around the opening of a volcano

2

: a hole made by an impact (as of a meteorite) or by the explosion of a bomb or shell

Medical Definition

crater

noun

cra·​ter ˈkrāt-ər 

: an eroded lesion of a wall or surface

ulcer craters