I.a mixing vessel, esp. a large bowl, in which the wine was mixed with water, and from which the cups were filled, Hom., etc.; οἶνον δ᾽ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφυσσάμενοι δεπάεσσιν ἔκχεον Il.; πίνοντες κρητῆρας drinking bowls of wine, id=Il.; κρητῆρα στήσασθαι ἐλεύθερον to give a bowl of wine to be drunk in honour of the deliverance, id=Il.; ἐπιστέψασθαι ποτοῖο, v. ἐπιστέφω.
II.any cup-shaped hollow, a basin in a rock, Soph., Plat.