Word of the Day - crucible

crucible

noun
cru·ci·ble ˈkrü-sə-bəl
1 a vessel of a very refractory material (such as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat
2 a severe test
3 a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development

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During his graduate studies, Bob used porcelain crucibles in a high-temperature oven to prepare diatom specimens for microscopic study. The hard shells remained after the living tissue was burned away.