/krooh"seuh beuhl/ , n.
1. a container of metal or refractory material employed for heating substances to high temperatures.
2. Metall. a hollow area at the bottom of a furnace in which the metal collects.
3. a severe, searching test or trial.
[ 1400-50; late ME crusible, corusible crucibulum; cf. AF crusil, OF croi-suel, croisol night lamp, crucible croceolus (of uncert. orig.), prob. Latinized on the model of turibulum THURIBLE ]