crater
crater — noun
1. A large, bowl-shaped hollow in the ground. Such features occur at volcanic peaks
A large, bowl-shaped hollow in the ground. Such features occur at volcanic peaks, created by eruptions, and can also be formed by meteorite strikes or bomb explosions.
Ari peered over the edge of the volcanic crater and watched the smoke rise.
collocation: volcanic crater
A huge crater formed in the road after the gas pipeline exploded.
The team of geologists studied the impact crater left by an ancient meteorite.
Bomb craters from the war are still visible in the fields outside the city.
- hole
General term for any opening; crater is more specific to large, round depressions from volcanic or impact causes.
- pit
A deep hole in the ground, often man-made (e.g., a mine pit), whereas a crater is formed by natural or explosive force.
- depression
A sunken area on a surface; more formal and less specific than crater.
- cavity
An enclosed hollow space inside something; crater is an open depression on the surface, often larger.
用法筆記
When referring to bomb damage, crater often pairs with compound nouns like bomb crater or shell crater. For volcanoes, the phrase volcanic crater is standard.
常見錯誤
crater — verb
1. To damage a surface by creating one or more depressions in it, typically by bomb
To damage a surface by creating one or more depressions in it, typically by bombing, heavy impact, or intense force.
The heavy bombing cratered the runway, preventing any planes from landing.
transitive: bombing cratered [surface]
Hailstones cratered the bonnet of Nicholas's car during the storm.
The workers cratered the old road with jackhammers before repaving it.
Artillery shells cratered the hillside where the soldiers were taking cover.
文法句型
crater + noun (surface)
用法筆記
Frequently passive when the agent is unknown or unimportant: 'The road was badly cratered by the bombing.' The subject is typically an explosion, heavy object, or destructive force.
常見錯誤
2. For a surface to gradually acquire bowl-shaped hollows, often because of weather
For a surface to gradually acquire bowl-shaped hollows, often because of weathering, repeated impact, or general wear over time.
The asphalt on the driveway cratered after years of harsh winters.
intransitive: surface + cratered (developed holes)
The surface of the moon cratered long ago from countless meteor impacts.
The plaster on the old ceiling cratered where water had leaked through.
The dirt road cratered badly after three days of heavy rain.
文法句型
surface + cratered
用法筆記
This sense is intransitive — the surface itself develops craters without specifying an external cause. It often occurs with a time phrase (over time, after) or a cause introduced by from or because of.
常見錯誤
3. For a financial measure — such as a price, stock market index, or company value
For a financial measure — such as a price, stock market index, or company value — to collapse suddenly and sharply.
The company's share price cratered after the fraud scandal broke.
figurative intransitive: price cratered (collapsed)
The technology market cratered when investors lost confidence in startups.
Tourism in the region cratered after the earthquake destroyed the main hotels.
Coffee prices cratered last season because farmers produced far too much.
- collapse
Very similar in meaning; collapse is slightly more formal and can apply to physical structures as well.
- plummet
To fall very quickly; plummet focuses on speed of descent, while crater emphasises the disastrous outcome.
- crash
Common in financial contexts (market crash); crash can also refer to computer systems or vehicles.
文法句型
price/market + cratered
用法筆記
Restricted to informal financial and commercial contexts. It implies a sudden, dramatic decline, not a gradual one. Common subjects: share prices, stock markets, currencies, revenues, and tourism figures.
常見錯誤
4. To make a financial measure — such as a price, stock market index, or company va
To make a financial measure — such as a price, stock market index, or company value — drop suddenly and sharply.
The bad harvest cratered the local grain market for the whole year.
transitive figurative: event cratered [market]
The central bank's surprise decision cratered the currency overnight.
The failed product launch cratered the company's annual revenue targets.
The scandal cratered Imran's business, and he had to close all his shops.
- wreck
To damage something severely; wreck is broader and can apply to physical objects, plans, or relationships.
- devastate
To cause severe damage; more formal than crater and often used for emotional or economic impact.
- sink
To cause something to fail; sink is less dramatic than crater and can describe a slower process.
文法句型
event + crater + price/market/business
用法筆記
The subject is the event or factor causing the collapse (a decision, scandal, natural disaster). The direct object is the affected price, market, or business. Unlike sense 3, this sense requires a named cause as the grammatical subject.