CRUCIBLE

[noun] [C] - a container in which metals or other substances can be heated to very high temperaturesClay crucibles were used in steel production because they could survive the intense heat which was needed to melt steel.A crucible is also a severe test.This theatre is the crucible of comedy, where fame or failure is found.A crucible is also a place in which different cultures or styles can mix together to produce something new and exciting.A vibrant cultural imagination and sense of community made Los Angeles a crucible for black music in the early 1940s and '50s.