What does "crucible" mean?

Crucible: A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted metal.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible of affliction. Hessian crucible (Chem.), a cheap, brittle, and fragile, but very refractory crucible, composed of the finest fire clay and sand, and commonly used for a single heating; -- named from the place of manufacture.

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