Pronunciation: [kɹˈe͡ɪtə] (IPA) 
The word "crater" is spelled with five letters: C-R-A-T-E-R. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /ˈkreɪtər/. The "c" is pronounced as /k/, the "r" is pronounced as a soft /ɹ/, and the "a" is pronounced as /eɪ/. The "t" and "e" are both pronounced as /ər/. This word refers to a large, bowl-shaped depression formed by a volcanic explosion or impact of a meteoroid or asteroid on the surface of the earth or another planet.
A crater is a noun that refers to a large, bowl-shaped depression in the Earth's surface, usually caused by the impact of a meteorite, a volcanic eruption, or an explosion. It is commonly circular with a steep or gradually sloping wall that is caused by the displaced material during the event.
Craters are typically found on the surface of celestial bodies such as the Moon, other planets, and moons, but they can also occur on Earth. The size and depth of craters can vary greatly, ranging from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers in diameter. The force from the impact creates immense pressure and heat, resulting in the ejection of rocks, dust, and debris into the surrounding area.
Craters can provide valuable insights into the history of a planetary body as they contain evidence of past geological events. They can reveal information about the impact process, the properties of the impacting object, and the geological evolution of the impacted area.
In addition to their scientific and historical significance, craters often possess aesthetical appeal and are regarded as natural landmarks. They can also serve as habitats for unique ecosystems and wildlife due to the ecological niches created by their distinct physical properties.
The mouth of a volcano, so called from its cup or bowl shaped vent; aperture; a constellation of the S. hemisphere, called the cup.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "crater" derives from the Latin word "crater", which itself is derived from the Greek word "krater". In Greek, "krater" refers to a large bowl used for mixing wine and water during ancient Greek symposia (which was a social gathering featuring drinking and intellectual discussion). The word "krater" was later adopted by the Romans to refer to a large, bowl-shaped volcanic depression or cavity, ultimately leading to the modern definition of "crater" as a hollow area, often found on the surface of the Earth or other celestial bodies, resulting from an impact or volcanic activity.
