crater
gb/kɹˈeɪtɚ/ us/kɹˈeɪtɚ/
B2
English
kráter, krátert üt, kráterekkel borít, bezuhan, összeomlik
NOUN
B2
1
kráter
B2
Usage pattern:
the crater (of a volcano)
We stood on the edge of the crater and watched smoke rise from below.
A kráter szélén álltunk, és néztük, ahogy alulról füst száll fel.
The volcano’s crater was partially filled with water after the eruption.
A kitörés után a vulkán krátere részben megtelt vízzel.
A narrow path led up to the crater rim.
Learner examples
The volcano has a big crater.
A vulkánnak nagy krátere van.
We looked into the crater.
Belenéztünk a kráterbe.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse crater with caldera; a caldera is typically much larger and formed by collapse.
Meaning
volcano’s bowl-shaped opening
Collocations
volcanic crater
|the crater rim
|the crater floor
|a steaming crater
|a dormant crater
|the crater of the volcano
|peer into the crater
|crater walls
Synonyms
caldera (Usually larger and formed by collapse, not just a simple crater.)
|
vent (Refers to the opening where material escapes, not the whole bowl-shaped hollow.)
Antonyms
peak (A high point rather than a hollow.)
Themes
nature
|geology
|science
Definition
a large bowl-shaped hole at the top of a volcano
A bowl-shaped hollow at the top of a volcano, often surrounding a vent where lava, ash, and gases are released.
NOUN
B2
2
kráter
B2
Usage pattern:
a crater (in/on [surface])
The meteor left a crater hundreds of meters wide.
A meteorit több száz méter széles krátert hagyott maga után.
A bomb crater marked the center of the field.
A mező közepén bombatölcsér tátongott.
The landing damaged the runway and created a crater near the main gate.
Learner examples
The explosion made a crater in the ground.
A robbanás krátert vájt a földbe.
Common mistake:
Crater is larger and more dramatic than a pothole; pothole is the common word for small road holes.
Meaning
large hole from impact/explosion
Collocations
impact crater
|meteor crater
|bomb crater
|shell crater
|a massive crater
|leave a crater
|a crater in the road
|a crater on the moon
|cratered landscape
Synonyms
pit (More general; not necessarily caused by impact or explosion.)
|
hole (Very general; lacks the idea of a circular blast/impact shape.)
Antonyms
mound (A raised pile rather than a hollow.)
Themes
science
|space
|news
|war
Definition
a big round hole made by an explosion or a hit
A large, roughly circular hole in the ground or on a planet’s surface caused by an explosion or by something hitting it with great force.
NOUN
C1
3
kráter
B2
Usage pattern:
a crater in/on [surface]
The old acne left small craters on his cheeks.
A régi pattanások kis krátereket hagytak az orcáin.
The hailstorm made craters in the soft metal roof.
A jégeső krátereket ütött a puha fémtetőbe.
Up close, the surface was full of tiny craters and scratches.
Learner examples
The surface has many small craters.
A felületen sok apró kráter van.
Common mistake:
In everyday talk about skin, people often say pimple scar or acne scar rather than crater.
Meaning
deep pitlike mark or dent
Collocations
craters on the face
|craters in the skin
|a crater in the metal
|small craters
|pitted with craters
|tiny craters
|crater-like dents
Synonyms
pockmark (Often used for small pits on skin or a surface.)
|
indentation (More general and not necessarily round or deep.)
Antonyms
smooth patch (An area without pits or dents.)
Themes
daily_life
|health
|materials
Definition
a deep round mark like a small hole
A deep, round depression or pitlike mark on a surface, especially one that makes the surface look uneven.
VERB
B2
4
krátert üt
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] craters [surface] / [surface] craters
The blast cratered the pavement and shattered nearby windows.
A robbanás krátert ütött az útburkolatba, és betörte a közeli ablakokat.
Months of shelling had cratered the hillside.
Hónapokig tartó ágyúzás kráterekkel borította a hegyoldalt.
Repeated impacts cratered the soft rock surface.
Learner examples
The explosion cratered the road.
A robbanás krátert ütött az útba.
Common mistake:
As a verb, crater is less common than make a crater or leave a crater in.
Meaning
make a crater in something
Collocations
crater the ground
|crater the runway
|crater the road
|cratered by bombs
|cratered surface
|cratered landscape
|crater a hillside
Synonyms
pockmark (Suggests many small pits rather than one large crater.)
|
dent (Usually smaller and not as deep or dramatic.)
Antonyms
fill (To put material into a hole so it is no longer hollow.)
Themes
science
|news
|engineering
Definition
to make a big round hole
To form a crater in a surface, or to cause a surface to become hollowed out like a crater.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
5
bezuhan
B2
összeomlik
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] craters / [something] cratered
After the scandal, his poll numbers cratered within a week.
A botrány után egy héten belül bezuhantak a közvélemény-kutatási eredményei.
The company’s stock cratered after the earnings report.
A cég részvénye az eredményjelentés után bezuhant.
They started the season well but cratered in the final month.
Learner examples
Sales cratered last month.
Az eladások múlt hónapban bezuhantak.
Common mistake:
This figurative use is common in headlines; in careful writing, collapse or plunge may be preferred.
Meaning
fall or fail very suddenly
Collocations
sales cratered
|profits cratered
|the stock cratered
|approval ratings cratered
|the team cratered
|crater late in the season
|crater after a strong start
Synonyms
plunge (Common for prices or numbers falling quickly.)
|
collapse (Neutral and widely used in formal writing.)
|
tank (Informal; often used for performance or sales.)
Antonyms
surge (To rise quickly and strongly.)
|
soar (To rise very high, often rapidly.)
Themes
business
|sports
|media
Definition
to fall or fail very fast
To drop, collapse, or fail very suddenly and dramatically, especially in sports, business, or public opinion.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crater
IPA
GB/kɹˈeɪtɚ/
US/kɹˈeɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
crater (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (crater)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: crater
- Plural: craters
Verb
- Base: crater
- 3rd Person Singular: craters
- Present Participle: cratering
- Past: cratered
Word family
Forms
craters
noun
cratering
verb
cratered
verb
Expressions
crater lake
1/kɹˈeɪtɚ lˈeɪk/
fixed phrase
lake formed inside a crater
a lake inside a volcano crater
Examples
- After the eruption, rainwater slowly formed a crater lake.
- We hiked around the crater lake and took photos from the rim.
- The guide explained how deep the crater lake is.
Learner examples
- There is a crater lake on the volcano.
crater out
1/kɹˈeɪtɚ ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
fail or crash completely
to fail suddenly and badly
Examples
- Our plan cratered out when the funding disappeared.
- The app cratered out halfway through the demo.
- He started strong but cratered out near the end of the race.
Learner examples
- The project cratered out.