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cave

noun \ ˈkāv \
|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of cave

plural caves
1 : a natural chamber or series of chambers in the earth or in the side of a hill or cliff
2 : a usually underground chamber for storage
  • a wine cave
; also : the articles stored there
3 : a place providing privacy or seclusion from others
  • When a friend dragged her out of her cave to go salsa dancing for the first time, the rhythms … stepped into her soul …
  • —Leslie Guttman
— see also man cave

See cave defined for English-language learners

See cave defined for kids

Examples of cave in a Sentence

  1. Kentucky's Mammoth Cave is actually a series of large chambers on five levels.

Origin and Etymology of cave

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin cava, noun derivative from feminine of cavus "hollow, concave" — more at 1hole

cave Synonyms

Synonyms

cavern, grot, grotto;

Related Words

abyss, chasm, gulf, hollow;

crawlway, gallery, subway, tunnel;

excavation, mine, pit, shaft, well;

bunker, dugout, foxhole;

burrow, covert, den, hole, lair, lodge, shelter;

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

2

cave

verb

Definition of cave

caved; caving
transitive verb
: to form a cave in or under
intransitive verb
: to explore caves especially as a sport or hobby
—

caver

play \ˈkā-vər\ noun

Origin and Etymology of cave

Middle English caven, in part derivative of cave 1cave, in part borrowed from Latin cavāre "to hollow out" excavate

3

cave

verb \ ˈkāv \

Definition of cave

caved; caving
intransitive verb
1 : to fall in or down especially from being undermined —usually used with in
2 : to cease to resist : submit —usually used with in
transitive verb
: to cause to fall or collapse —usually used with in

Origin and Etymology of cave

probably alteration of calve

Phrases Related to CAVE

Related Phrases

CAVE Defined for English Language Learners

cave

noun

Definition of cave for English Language Learners

  • : a large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground

CAVE Defined for Kids

1

cave

noun \ ˈkāv \

Definition of cave for Students

: a large hollow place formed by natural processes in the side of a hill or cliff or underground
2

cave

verb

Definition of cave for Students

caved; caving
: to fall or cause to fall in or down : collapse
  • The mine caved in.

Learn More about cave

  1. See words that rhyme with cave Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cave Spanish Central: Translation of cave Nglish: Translation of cave for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cave for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cave

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