1. containers made of heat-resistant material used for melting metals or other substances at high temperatures
2. severe tests or trials that reveal character or determine outcomes
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The laboratory used platinum crucibles to melt the gold samples.
• Steel crucibles can withstand temperatures over 3000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The war became one of the great crucibles of the twentieth century.
• These difficult experiences served as crucibles that shaped his character.
• The chemistry students heated their samples in ceramic crucibles.
• The startup faced several crucibles that tested the founders’ resolve.
• Ancient metalworkers used clay crucibles to forge bronze tools.