cellar

1 of 2

noun

cel·​lar ˈse-lər How to pronounce cellar (audio)
1
a
: a room or set of rooms below the ground floor of a building : basement
There's storage space in the cellar.
b(1)
: a room for storing wines : wine cellar
(2)
: a stock of wines
a restaurant with an impressive cellar
2
: the lowest grade or rank
especially : the lowest place in the standings (as of an athletic league)
The team spent most of last year in the cellar.

cellar

2 of 2

verb

cellared; cellaring
1
transitive : to put or keep (something, such as wine or cheese) in a cellar for storage or aging
Each batch is handmade to achieve a delicate soft texture, then cellared for a month to complete the aging …Juliet Harbutt
2
intransitive : to be stored in a cellar : to undergo aging while being stored in a cellar
Perfectly drinkable now, but will cellar nicely for another 3–5 years.Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Examples of cellar in a Sentence

Noun The cellar has a dirt floor. a restaurant with an impressive cellar
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
According to the Michelin Guide, friendly sommeliers will guide you through one of the deepest Italian wine and Champagne cellars in the country. Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 The guest ranch’s cellar, with more than 90 selections, has received accolades from Wine Spectator. Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Her family spent almost a month sheltering in the cellar, then fled to the home of relatives in a neighboring village. Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Saturday also saw the first Major League Soccer win for Smith, the coach with Premier League credentials tasked with uplifting a team widely expected to finish in the Eastern Conference cellar. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2024 The additions of Lucas Giolito, Tyler O’Neill and Vaughn Grissom might not free the Boston Red Sox out of their new digs in the cellar. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024 Rogers threw Reba a rustic, romantic dinner in his cellar. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2024 New cellar machinery was bought and recently a moisture and temperature control system has been introduced in part of the cellar dedicated to aging the wine in oak. John Mariani, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 All lockers are stored at cellar temp (57-60 degrees) and bottles can be specially chilled upon request ahead of arrival for lunch/dinner reservations. Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2024
Verb
This has the structure and depth of fruit to cellar for another 10-20 years. Tom Hyland, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023 No conference is strong from roof to cellar in the revenue-making sports — football and basketball. Nick Canepacolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022 This handy gadget will bring reds to cellar temperature in 15 minutes and keep your whites cool for about 60 minutes. Maureen Farrar, Outside Online, 9 June 2022 Definitely a wine to cellar for a special occasion. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2021 Classic example that can cellar for a few more years. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2021 Former President Bill Clinton cellared Grand Staircase-Escalante a national monument in 1996 and former President Barack Obama protected Bears Ears in 2016, both using the 1906 Antiquities Act. TheWeek, 7 Feb. 2020 Also, grab an extra bottle to cellar for next year; this is one of those beers that gets better with age. Ac Shilton, Outside Online, 6 Dec. 2019 Keeping carrots and cellaring them, that concentrates the sugars. Kristine M. Kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cellar.' 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 celer "storeroom, underground chamber," borrowed from Anglo-French, "storeroom," going back to Latin cellārium, from cella "store, larder, small room" + -ārium -ary entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cellar was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near cellar

Cite this Entry

“Cellar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellar. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cellar

noun
cel·​lar
ˈsel-ər
: a room or set of rooms below the surface of the ground : basement

More from Merriam-Webster on cellar

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