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Dent vs Crater - What's the difference?

dent | crater | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between dent and crater

is that dent is a shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact while crater is a hemispherical pit created by the impact of a meteorite or other object.

As verbs the difference between dent and crater

is that dent is to impact something, producing a dent while crater is to collapse catastrophically; implode; hollow out; to become devastated or completely destroyed.

As a proper noun Crater is

: A dim spring constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a cup. It lies between the constellations Virgo and Hydra.

dent

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) . More at dint.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact.
    • The crash produced a dent in the left side of the car.
  • (by extension, informal) A sudden negative change, such as loss, damage, weakening, consumption or diminution, especially one produced by an external force, event or action
    • That purchase put a bit of a dent in my wallet.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=April 11 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Andy Carroll's first goals since his £35m move to Liverpool put a dent in Manchester City's Champions League hopes as they were emphatically swept aside at Anfield.}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To impact something, producing a dent.
  • To develop a dent or dents.
    • ''Copper is soft and dents easily.

    Etymology 2

    (etyl), from (etyl) dens, dentis, tooth. See tooth.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (engineering) A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc.
    • (Knight)

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs ----

    crater

    English

    Etymology 1

    First coined 1613, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (astronomy) A hemispherical pit created by the impact of a meteorite or other object.
  • (geology) The basin-like opening or mouth of a volcano, through which the chief eruption comes; similarly, the mouth of a geyser, about which a cone of silica is often built up.
  • (informal) The pit left by the explosion of a mine or bomb.
  • (informal) Any large, roughly circular depression or hole.
    • Synonyms
    * (astronomy) astrobleme * (geology) caldera

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To collapse catastrophically; implode; hollow out; to become devastated or completely destroyed.
    • The economy is about to crater . -- Attributed by David Letterman to Sen. John McCain. NYTimes blog
  • (snowboarding) To crash or fall.
    • He cratered into that snow bank about five seconds after his first lesson.

    Etymology 2

    Possibly a diminutive of cratur (dialect form of creature ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Ireland, informal, UK, dialect) A term of endearment, a dote, a wretched thing.
    • 1843' - I then had the two best tarriers beneath the canopy; this poor '''crater is their daughter," and he patted the dog's head affectionately.
    William Hamilton Maxwell, '' Wild Sports of the West: With Legendary Tales, and Local Sketches     , Publisher R. Bentley, page 77,
    1859' - She is a charming ' crater ; I would venture to say that, if I was not her father.
    The British Drama: A Collection of the Most Esteemed Tragedies, Comedies ...
    1872 (Thomas Hardy) "Under the Greenwood Tree"
    "Then why not stop for fellow-craters -- going to thy own father's house too, as we be, and knowen us so well?"
    Usage notes
    This term is still commonly used in speech but rarely appears in modern writing. (craterin)

    Anagrams

    * * ----