crucible

詳細解釋：

cru.ci.ble

n.（名詞）
A vessel made of a refractory substance such as graphite or porcelain, used for melting and calcining materials at high temperatures.
坩堝：一種用石墨或瓷等耐熔物質製成的器具，用來在高溫時熔化或煅燒原料
A severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial.See Synonyms at trial
考驗：嚴峻的考驗，如對耐心或信念的考驗；磨練參見 trial
A place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces:
熔爐：智力、社會、經濟或政治力量匯合的地點、時間或狀況：
例句：
.Yale is a crucible in American life for the accommodation of intellectual achievement, of wisdom, of refinement, with the democratic ideals of openness, of social justice and of equal opportunity.(Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.)
.耶魯大學是美國生活中的一個熔爐，它為智力成就、智慧和精確提供了便利，具有開放、社會公正以及機會同等的民主觀念.(小本諾C.施米特)

來源：
Middle English crusible
中古英文 crusible
from Medieval Latin crôcibulum [night-light, crucible]
源自 中世紀拉丁語 crôcibulum [通夜燈，坩堝]
possibly from Old French croisuel [cresset] * see cresset
可能源自 古法文 croisuel [燈器] *參見 cresset