crater
A hemispherical pit created by the impact of a meteorite or other object.
Other meanings
The basin-like opening or mouth of a volcano, through which the chief eruption comes; similarly, the mouth of a geyser, about which a cone of silica is often built up.
The pit left by the explosion of a mine or bomb.
Kinds of crater
- collector
- lunar crater
Related words
- crateral
- craterkin
- Gale Crater
- Nemo Crater
- Pirx Crater
- Revati Crater
- Sadko Crater
- bomb crater
- Endeavour Crater
- crater face
- crater lake
- craterform
Word history
From Ancient Greek "κρᾱτήρ" (mixing-bowl, wassail-bowl).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “crater” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.