cage

noun \ ˈkāj \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of cage

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

2 a : a barred cell for confining prisoners

b : a fenced area for prisoners of war

3 : a framework serving as support

the steel cage of a skyscraper

4 a : an enclosure resembling a cage in form or purpose

a cashier's cage

b : 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

5 a : batting cage

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

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

—

cageful

play \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

See cage defined for English-language learners

See cage defined for kids

Examples of cage in a Sentence

the dogs and cats at the animal shelter looked so sad in their cages

Recent Examples of cage from the Web

But the following day, the women found Tweety at the bottom of the cage again, this time dead.

— allison klein, ajc, "Video: This woman did CPR on a parakeet and it actually worked," 19 May 2018
As the show went on, the tiger eventually stopped circling and curled up in a corner of the cage, facing away from the fire dancers and the bulk of the crowd.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Florida prep school apologizes for using tiger as prom prop," 14 May 2018
Strickland took the center of the cage early, standing upright and looking to utilize his range.

— john morgan, USA TODAY, "Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos connects on crazy spinning kick vs. Sean Strickland at UFC 224," 12 May 2018
Kowalski said village inspectors in April discovered pigeon feces covering animal cages and other violations.

— ted slowik, Daily Southtown, "Slowik: Animal Welfare League changes leadership amid ongoing scrutiny," 8 May 2018
The three were detained in cages in the courthouse basement.

— mary anastasia o’grady, WSJ, "George Soros and the ‘Caravan’," 6 May 2018
Then Morsi was placed inside a cage in a courtroom, where he was tried for murder and treason.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Cairo: A Type of Love Story," 30 Apr. 2018
On one side of the park, vines crawl over the bars of a cage that in the 1970s held one of former President Mobutu Sese Seko’s pet leopards.

— ryan lenora brown, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Congo, a new national museum renews quest to reclaim history," 27 Apr. 2018
The hammer cage and jumps will be located just outside the oval track.

— uab athletics media relations, AL.com, "Alabama BOT approves new UAB outdoor track," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cage

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin cavea cavity, cage, from cavus hollow — more at cave

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

cage Synonyms

Synonyms

coop, corral, hutch, pen, pound;

Related Words

kennel, run;

stockade;

cote, dovecote (also dovecot), henhouse;

cage

verb

Definition of cage

caged; caging

transitive verb

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

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

Examples of cage in a Sentence

caged the rabbit at night so she wouldn't wake everyone up

Recent Examples of cage from the Web

While training to be a handmaid at the Rachel and Leah Center, June finds out how Gilead caged her mother’s spirit.

— refinery29.com, "June's Mom Took Back The Night, & Then Gilead Took Her," 3 May 2018
Much better than being caged in a cubicle for the summer, eight college students will get to ride motorcycles, and document their experiences, in a new internship from Harley-Davidson.

— rick barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Harley wants interns to ride around the country posting to social media — the motorcycle is free," 20 Apr. 2018
While these hens are not caged, roaming space may be limited.

— darlene zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Eggs: What you need to know about size, color and type," 22 Apr. 2018
Officers snared, secured and caged the animal after shocking it with a stun gun, police said.

— staff report, Daily Southtown, "Police blotter," 10 Apr. 2018
Japanese media said the son was caged for more than 20 years, but police would not confirm that number.

— mari yamaguchi, chicagotribune.com, "Japanese man arrested for reportedly caging son for 20 years," 9 Apr. 2018
There’s the one in Lincoln Heights, who does not want to be caged in her apartment and yet feels ill at ease outside of it.

— brittny mejia, www.latimes.com, "They came to L.A. from Mexico for a better life. Now some are finding it — back in Mexico," 6 Apr. 2018
William, known as Matthew, was caged for 75 years for being a party to the murder of a man who was stabbed to death at a motel in Fort Worth in 2001.

— Fox News, "British mom marries Texas murderer serving 75-year sentence after they became prison pen pals," 12 Mar. 2018
And when passengers discovered that emotional support animals travel free (pets usually cost $100 to $150 in the passenger cabin, $200 or more if carried in the cargo hold) and needn’t be caged, the race was on — literally.

— glenn garvin, miamiherald, "A duck with a window seat? How ‘emotional support’ critters are getting on your flight | Miami Herald," 21 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of cage

1577

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

cage Synonyms

Synonyms

box (in), closet, coop (up), corral, encase, enclose (also inclose), envelop, fence (in), hedge, hem (in), house, immure, include, mew (up), pen, wall (in);

encircle, encompass, enfold, enframe, enlace, frame, ring, surround;

armor, cocoon, encapsulate, encapsule, encyst, ensheathe, ensphere, enwomb;

Cage

biographical name \ ˈkāj \

Definition of Cage

John Milton 1912–1992 American composer

Financial Definition of CAGE

cage

noun

What It Is

A cage is a department in a brokerage firm.

How It Works

The cage is a physical location in which people at a brokerage firm handle physical securities and certificates. The location is called a cage because it usually has bars or other barriers to prevent other people from entering and exiting, and it usually has a vault.

Why It Matters

The cage is a crucial part of any brokerage firm's operations because it ensures that clients' physical certificates are kept safe and sound, and that the right securities are exchanged in transactions.

Source: Investing Answers

CAGE Defined for English Language Learners

cage

noun

Definition of cage for English Language Learners

: a box made of wire or metal bars in which people keep animals or birds

CAGE Defined for Kids

cage

noun \ ˈkāj \

Definition of cage for Students

1 : a box or enclosure that has large openings covered usually with wire net or bars and is used for keeping birds or animals

a hamster cage

2 : an enclosure like a cage in shape or purpose

a bank teller's cage

cage

verb

Definition of cage for Students

caged; caging

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

She caged the birds together.

Medical Dictionary

cage

noun \ ˈkāj \

medical Definition of 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

Learn More about cage

See words that rhyme with cage Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cage Spanish Central: Translation of cage Nglish: Translation of cage for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cage for Arabic speakers

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cageful

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cage

Definition of cage

Examples of cage in a Sentence

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First Known Use of cage

cage Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Cage

Definition of Cage

Financial Definition of CAGE

What It Is

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CAGE Defined for English Language Learners

cage

Definition of cage for English Language Learners

CAGE Defined for Kids

cage

Definition of cage for Students

cage

Definition of cage for Students

Medical Dictionary

cage

medical Definition of cage

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