cage

1 of 2

noun

ˈkāj

Synonyms of cage next

: a box or enclosure having some openwork for confining or carrying animals (such as birds)

: a barred cell for confining prisoners

: a fenced area for prisoners of war

: a framework serving as support

the steel cage of a skyscraper

: an enclosure resembling a cage in form or purpose

a cashier's cage

: an arrangement of atoms or molecules so bonded as to enclose a space in which another atom or ion (as of a metal) can reside

: batting cage

: a goal consisting of posts or a frame with a net attached (as in ice hockey)

: a large building containing an area for practicing outdoor sports and often adapted for indoor events

cageful

ˈkāj-ˌfu̇l

noun

cage

2 of 2

verb

caged; caging

transitive verb

: to confine or keep in or as if in a cage

: to drive (a puck, a shot, etc.) into a cage and score a goal

Example Sentences

Noun the dogs and cats at the animal shelter looked so sad in their cages Verb caged the rabbit at night so she wouldn't wake everyone up

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

MOFs are metal ions and stick-like organic molecules that, like Tinkertoys, come together to build complex cages. —

Adithi Ramakrishnan, Dallas News, 18 May 2023 The final product was equipped with a soft iron cage to protect the movement. —

Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 May 2023 Wear clean clothes, and disinfect cages or equipment that come in contact with birds and their droppings. —

Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 14 May 2023 Both types will require support with a trellis or tomato cage. —

Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 12 May 2023 Our cages and facilities were simply nicer; our methods softer. —

Dan Musgrave, Longreads, 9 May 2023 Researchers use binoculars to spot koalas in eucalyptus trees, then construct circular enclosures around the tree bases with doors leading into cages. —

Christina Larson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2023 Enclosed in a faux bird cage comes a clear crystal lamp with a basketweave pattern that diffuses the light and is sure to add some flair to your home. —

Alanna Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2023 Plath added on social media that whoever takes over caring for Halle will also be given her cage, exercise wheel, extra food, grooming kit, sleeping sack, and other items to help care for the critter. —

Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 8 May 2023

Verb

At the same time, the department lacks volunteers who are trained to handle larger dogs, so those dogs are caged for longer periods without walks. —

Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2023 Wild animals, when trapped, when caged, often frown, sometimes grin. —

Michael W. Clune, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Apr. 2023 Ray had stayed briefly in the Magic City after his escape from the Missouri prison that caged him for seven years for robbing a grocery store. —

Jeremy Gray | , al, 5 Apr. 2023 In the past, the climate movement focused on protecting parks or areas that cage nature. —

Melissa Giannini, ELLE, 28 Mar. 2023 Caged Feeders These work in a variety of ways to hold seed or other bird food inside a strong metal mesh or cage-type structure designed to allow smaller birds entry while keeping larger birds out. —

Kristen (kj) Callihan, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2023 The kidnappers sped off with the children caged in those mobile prisons. —

David Begnaud, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2023 Gabriela Hearst Lynn leather caged sandals, $890 While the essential list of shoes may vary depending on personal style, the editors of Vogue agree that the below categories are the shoes that will carry you, literally and metaphorically, everywhere. —

Joy Montgomery, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2023 Within 10-6 second, quarks and gluons were caged inside protons and neutrons. —

Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin cavea "enclosure for poultry, cage, auditorium of a theater," of uncertain origin

Note: Latin cavea is usually taken to be a noun derivative of an unattested adjective *caveus, from cavus "hollow, concave" (see cave entry 1, hole entry 1), the sense "something hollow, cavity" being extended to "enclosed space" and then "enclosure"; however, -eus is normally a denominal suffix meaning "made of" (see -eous), so that the resulting sense of the derivative is not clear. Perhaps of relevance is the suffix of alveus "trough, hull, channel" (see alveolus).