a. [ F. crucial, fr. L. crux, crucis, cross, torture. See Cross. ] 1. Having the form of a cross; appertaining to a cross; cruciform; intersecting; as, crucial ligaments; a crucial incision. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Severe; trying or searching, as if bringing to the cross; decisive; as, a crucial test. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Cf. Sw. karussa, G. karausche, F. carousse, -assin, corassin, LL. coracinus, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a sort of fish. ] (Zool.) A kind of European carp (Carasius vulgaris), inferior to the common carp; -- called also German carp. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The gibel or Prussian carp is now generally considered a variety of the crucian carp, or perhaps a hybrid between it and the common carp. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. cruciatus, p. p. of cruciare to crucify, torture, fr. crux, crucis, a cross. See Cross. ] 1. Tormented. [ Obs. ] Bale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Having the leaves or petals arranged in the form of a cross; cruciform. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To torture; to torment. [ Obs. ] See Excruciate. Bale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. cruciatio. ] The act of torturing; torture; torment. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. crucibulum a hanging lamp, an earthen pot for melting metals (cf. OF. croisel, creuseul, sort of lamp, crucible, F. creuset crucible), prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. krūsul, LG. krüsel, hanging lamp, kroos, kruus, mug, jug, jar, D. kroes cup, crucible, Dan. kruus, Sw. krus, E. cruse. It was confused with derivatives of L. crux cross (cf. Crosslet), and crucibles were said to have been marked with a cross, to prevent the devil from marring the chemical operation. See Cruse, and cf. Cresset. ] 1. A vessel or melting pot, composed of some very refractory substance, as clay, graphite, platinum, and used for melting and calcining substances which require a strong degree of heat, as metals, ores, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted metal. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible of affliction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hessian crucible (Chem.), a cheap, brittle, and fragile, but very refractory crucible, composed of the finest fire clay and sand, and commonly used for a single heating; -- named from the place of manufacture. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Cast steel made by fusing in crucibles crude or scrap steel, wrought iron, and other ingredients and fluxes. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ See Cruciferous. ] (Bot.) Any plant of the family Cruciferæ. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. a natural family of plants with four-petaled flowers; the mustard family.
Syn. -- family Cruciferae, Brassicaceae, family Brassicaceae, mustard family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. crux, crucis, cross + -ferous: cf. F. crucifère. ] 1. Bearing a cross. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants which have four petals arranged like the arms of a cross, as the mustard, radish, turnip, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]