cave

1 of 3

noun

ˈkāv 

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

cave

2 of 3

verb (1)

caved; caving

transitive verb

: to form a cave in or under

intransitive verb

: to explore caves especially as a sport or hobby

caver

ˈkā-vər 

noun

cave

3 of 3

verb (2)

ˈkāv 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• antre
• cavern
• delve [archaic]
• grot
• grotto

Verb (2)

• buckle
• collapse
• crumple
• founder
• give
• go
• go out
• implode
• tumble
• yield

Examples of cave in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb (2)

the wall caved in when a tree fell on it

I caved in to my bibliomania and bought two more books last week

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ohio has more than 400 caves and caverns, according to Cleveland Scene, but only a few are currently open to the public. —Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 15 July 2024

Dunbar Cave State Park is home to the namesake cave, which has an incredible display of drawings by 14th century Mississippian Native Americans. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 12 July 2024

Verb

Just weeks after a disastrous debate spurred a dramatic revolt within his own party, Joseph R. Biden Jr., the 46th President of the United States, caved on July 21 to concerns among Democrats about his dwindling re-election chances, dropping out of the contest against former President Donald Trump. —Brian Bennett, TIME, 21 July 2024

Leaders of both parties hated the change, but Democrats finally caved and placed Proposition 14 on the ballot. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 14 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

probably alteration of calve

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

1513, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cave

• cave bear
• cave dweller
• cave-in
• cave painting
• man cave

Kids Definition

cave

1 of 2 noun

ˈkāv 

: a natural underground chamber or series of chambers open to the surface

cave

2 of 2 verb

caved; caving

: to fall or cause to fall in or down : collapse

—usually used with in