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cavity

noun
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cav·​i·​ty | \ ˈka-və-tē How to pronounce cavity (audio) \
plural cavities

Definition of cavity

1 : an unfilled space within a mass especially : a hollowed-out space
2 : an area of decay in a tooth : caries
Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about cavity

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Examples of cavity in a Sentence

Some birds nest in tree cavities. I had two cavities filled at the dentist's.
Recent Examples on the Web When someone takes a big sniff, molecules travel up the nose to the olfactory epithelium, a small piece of tissue at the back of the nasal cavity. — Sara Harrison, National Geographic, "Many COVID-19 patients lost their sense of smell. Will they get it back?," 5 Aug. 2020 Furthermore, a large hollow cavity in the bullet nose, along with exterior jacket skiving, further aids expansion and penetration. — Field & Stream, "Best of Both Worlds," 3 Aug. 2020 Insulating this particular model, a tiny home builder told Realtor.com, would require building a wall cavity that would take the same amount of time and effort as just building a home from scratch. — Jessica Dailey, House Beautiful, "Want to Build a Backyard Guest House? Here's What to Know," 17 June 2020 For anglers, the kayak has two rod holders, a transducer cavity, tackle storage, a padded standing platform to cast from, and several accessory rails for mounting gear. — Adrienne Donica, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Kayaks for Fishing and Floating," 3 June 2020 With the tire on the rim, shoot a few squirts of an explosive aerosol into the tire cavity. — Car and Driver, "Stuff Happens: The Automotive Survival Skills You Need to Get Away," 11 July 2020 Her illness starts to manifest itself physically, as a black mold grows over her chest cavity, turning her into a monster of sorts. — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, "The Ending Of Relic Reveals A Monster We’d Rather Not Think About," 10 July 2020 Causes for the dramatic decline include loss of habitat and natural cavity nesting sites such as small hollows in dead trees. — Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin’s Bluebird Comeback: Beautiful native bird is thriving with human help," 25 June 2020 These provide critical habitat for both mammals and birds, including the cavity-dwelling bluebirds. — Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ten ways to attract and help bluebirds in Wisconsin," 25 June 2020

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

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First Known Use of cavity

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for cavity

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French cavité, borrowed from Late Latin cavitāt-, cavitās, from Latin cavus "hollow, concave" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at hole entry 1

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Time Traveler for cavity

Time Traveler

The first known use of cavity was in 1541

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Statistics for cavity

Last Updated

10 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Cavity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavity. Accessed 22 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for cavity

cavity

noun
How to pronounce cavity (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cavity

: a hole or space inside something
: a hole formed in a tooth by decay

See the full definition for cavity in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cavity

noun
cav·​i·​ty | \ ˈka-və-tē How to pronounce cavity (audio) \
plural cavities

Kids Definition of cavity

1 : a small hole formed in a tooth by decay
2 : a hollow place The explosion left a cavity in the ground.

cavity

noun
cav·​i·​ty | \ ˈkav-ət-ē How to pronounce cavity (audio) \
plural cavities

Medical Definition of cavity

1 : an unfilled space within a mass
2 : an area of decay in a tooth : caries

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More from Merriam-Webster on cavity

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cavity

Spanish Central: Translation of cavity

Nglish: Translation of cavity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of cavity for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cavity

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