kettle
kettle Lexical Profile
kettle Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A metal or plastic vessel with a lid, spout, and handle, used primarily for boiling water.
"She filled the kettle with water and turned on the stove to make some afternoon tea."
A steep-sided hollow or depression in a glacial outwash plain, often formed by the melting of a buried block of ice.
"The hikers rested near a small, deep lake that had filled an ancient glacial kettle."
• verb
To confine a group of demonstrators or protesters to a small area as a method of crowd control.
"The police decided to kettle the protesters in the square to prevent the march from escalating."
Word Nuance & Usage
In everyday usage, a 'kettle' specifically refers to the vessel used to boil water, whereas a 'teapot' is used to steep and serve the brewed tea.
• Rhymes for kettle
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'ketel', from Old English 'cetel', of Germanic origin. It ultimately derives from the Latin 'catillus', meaning a small bowl or dish.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.