名詞 crucible:

1. a vessel made of material that does not melt easily; used for high temperature chemical reactions
   同義詞：melting pot

1. The alliance has been forged in the crucible of war.
   這個(gè)聯(lián)盟經(jīng)受了戰(zhàn)爭的嚴(yán)峻考驗(yàn)。
2. The alliance had been forged in the crucible of war.
   這個(gè)聯(lián)盟經(jīng)受了戰(zhàn)爭的嚴(yán)峻考驗(yàn)。

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(zhì)制成的器具，用來在高溫時(shí)熔化或煅燒原料
A severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial.See Synonyms at trial
考驗(yàn)：嚴(yán)峻的考驗(yàn)，如對耐心或信念的考驗(yàn)；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(huì)、經(jīng)濟(jì)或政治力量匯合的地點(diǎn)、時(shí)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(xué)是美國生活中的一個(gè)熔爐，它為智力成就、智慧和精確提供了便利，具有開放、社會(huì)公正以及機(jī)會(huì)同等的民主觀念.(小本諾C.施米特)

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