crucible
/ˈkruːsɪbl/noun
1- a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures坩埚。
1.1
- a place or occasion of severe test or trial严峻考验; 磨炼：
the crucible of combat
战斗的考验。
1.2
- a place or situation in which different elements interact to produce something new熔炉：
the crucible of the new Romantic movement
新浪漫主义运动这一熔炉。
词源
late Middle English: from medieval Latin crucibulum 'night lamp, crucible' (perhaps originally a lamp hanging in front of a crucifix), from Latin crux, cruc- 'cross'.