cauldron
cauldron — noun
- cauldronsingular
- cauldronsplural
1. a big, deep metal cooking pot that people hung over a fire in times past, now se
a big, deep metal cooking pot that people hung over a fire in times past, now seen mainly in historical descriptions and fantasy stories
The old story described a witch stirring a bubbling green liquid in her iron cauldron.
stir + in + iron cauldron over fire
Archaeologists uncovered a bronze cauldron with three legs near the remains of a Roman kitchen.
bronze cauldron with three legs
Kofi hung the large cauldron above the campfire to cook stew for the group.
The museum displayed a Celtic cauldron decorated with carvings of animals and warriors.
用法筆記
In modern everyday life, 'pot' or 'saucepan' is used instead. 'Cauldron' appears mainly in historical descriptions, fantasy fiction, and fairy tales.
常見錯誤
2. a large, bowl-shaped structure that is ignited to mark the start of a major spor
a large, bowl-shaped structure that is ignited to mark the start of a major sports gathering such as the Olympic Games, where it serves as a symbolic flame holder
The Olympic cauldron was lit by a former champion at the opening ceremony.
the Olympic cauldron was lit by [someone]
Thousands of spectators watched the flame rise from the cauldron above the arena.
flame rise from the cauldron
Mei-Lin stayed up late to watch the cauldron ignite at the Paralympic ceremony.
The cauldron at the Commonwealth Games was lit by a young torchbearer from the host nation.
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by the name of the event: 'the Olympic cauldron', 'the Commonwealth Games cauldron'. The verb 'light' or 'ignite' is the typical collocation.
常見錯誤
3. a large metal container used in factories or workshops to hold, heat, or process
a large metal container used in factories or workshops to hold, heat, or process materials such as molten metal, chemicals, or glass
Workers wearing protective suits poured the liquid steel into the foundry cauldron.
pour [material] into the cauldron
The industrial cauldron was lined with heat-resistant bricks to withstand the extreme temperatures.
industrial cauldron lined with [material]
Arun checked the chemical cauldron's temperature gauge before adding the ingredients.
The glass factory used a giant cauldron to melt sand and other materials at high heat.
用法筆記
In modern industrial contexts, 'furnace', 'crucible', or 'kettle' are more common than 'cauldron'. This sense of 'cauldron' is rare and somewhat old-fashioned even in industry.
4. a place, city, or period where many new ideas, art forms, inventions, or cultura
a place, city, or period where many new ideas, art forms, inventions, or cultural movements develop at the same time, as if being actively produced in a single container
Renaissance Florence was a cauldron of artistic innovation that produced painters and sculptors of genius.
cauldron of [creative output]
The university research centre became a cauldron of new ideas in renewable energy engineering.
Alexandria was a cultural cauldron where Greek, Egyptian, and Persian traditions mixed.
During the 1920s, Harlem became a cauldron of jazz music and African American writing.
- hotbed
a place where something undesirable or intense develops; 'cauldron' is more neutral or positive
- cradle
the place where something began; 'cauldron' suggests ongoing active production, not just origin
- melting pot
specifically a place where different cultures or groups mix; narrower than 'cauldron'
文法句型
cauldron + of + noun
用法筆記
Always followed by 'of' + a noun describing what is being created (e.g., 'cauldron of creativity', 'cauldron of activity'). Almost always singular.
常見錯誤
5. a situation, place, or group that is filled with intense negative emotions or op
a situation, place, or group that is filled with intense negative emotions or opposing forces that could erupt into anger, violence, or chaos at any moment
The refugee camp was a cauldron of frustration that could boil into violence any day.
cauldron of [emotion] that could boil over
Political tensions turned the capital into a cauldron of unrest before the election.
cauldron of unrest
Deepa sensed the office was a cauldron of resentment after the unfair promotion decision.
The border region was a simmering cauldron of ethnic tension for many years.
- powder keg
a situation that could explode into violence; more urgent and volatile than 'cauldron'
- tinderbox
a highly flammable situation easily set off; emphasises the ease of ignition
- pressure cooker
a situation of intense stress that could burst; suggests confinement
- haven
a place of safety and calm, the opposite of a conflict-filled situation
文法句型
cauldron + of + noun
用法筆記
Often paired with verbs or phrases suggesting pressure and explosion: 'simmering cauldron', 'cauldron about to boil over', 'cauldron of tension'. Almost always followed by 'of' + a negative emotion noun.