den

play

noun \ ˈden \

Definition of den

1 :the lair of a wild usually predatory animal

2 a (1) :a hollow or cavern used especially as a hideout

(2) :a center of secret activity

b :a small usually squalid dwelling

3 :a comfortable usually secluded room

4 :a subdivision of a Cub Scout pack made up of two or more boys

See den defined for English-language learners

See den defined for kids

Examples of den in a Sentence

The bears will spend most of the winter in their den.
The TV is in the den.
He spent most evenings in the den reading and smoking his pipe.

Recent Examples of den from the Web

But there’s more to this dark, midcentury-modern-styled den than smoking.

— brian sloan, New York Times, "Smokers Are Welcome at This Upper East Side Bar," 22 Aug. 2017
A window in the master bedroom looks out over the marsh, and the room has clerestory windows, as does the suite's den.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "This modern Grand Isle fishing camp is built to withstand a category 5 storm," 16 Aug. 2017
The young remain with their mother the first year, den with her the following winter, and search for their own territory in their second summer.

— jefferson county cooperative extension, AL.com, "Black bears may be coming to a neighborhood near you (Garden Talk)," 14 Aug. 2017
Buyers want three dens and the maid’s room and the walk-in closet.

— andres viglucci, miamiherald, "Tree-devouring “white boxes” invade lush Coconut Grove, and the locals revolt," 21 July 2017
Doors near the kitchen can close off the den from the more formal areas of the downstairs, allowing the Haynes' two young sons -- Miller, 6, and George, 18 months -- to spread out with their toys.

— susan langenhennig, NOLA.com, "A mid-century modern home shines in Uptown's Black Pearl neighborhood," 12 July 2017
Nancy Huntly, now an ecologist at Utah State University, created experimental enclosures for the skittish herbivores by carrying boulders out to meadows, far from their dens.

— liza gross, Smithsonian, "How Fear of Humans Can Ripple Through Food Webs and Reshape Landscapes," 12 July 2017
Located in the former HQ of the Portland Press Herald, The Press Hotel combines high design and local art with spot-on hospitality (the lobby café swings from coffee shop to cocktail den depending on time of day).

— alyssa giacobbe, CNT, "How Portland, Maine Keeps Getting Cooler," 6 July 2017
Coyotes dig dens and bear pups in late winter and spring.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Coyote project offers insight into lives of adaptable, valuable species," 5 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of den

Middle English, from Old English denn; akin to Old English denu valley, Old High German tenni threshing floor

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

den Synonyms

Synonyms

burrow, hole, house, lair, lodge

Related Words

nest; territory

den

verb

Definition of den

denned; denning

intransitive verb

:to live in or retire to a den

polar bears den in ice caves or snowdrifts

transitive verb

:to drive into a den

Recent Examples of den from the Web

Conservation groups say the 1002 area — 8 percent of the refuge — is critical habitat for the Porcupine caribou herd and threatened polar bears that den along the coast in greater numbers than elsewhere in Alaska.

— alex demarban, Alaska Dispatch News, "ANWR well, drilled on a private Native inholding, has held its secret for decades as interest in the coastal plain has grown and subsided," 22 July 2017
This year, Lewis was on a mission to find out if the fishers were denning.

— evan bush, The Seattle Times, "Furry fisher in South Cascades has a baby! Biologists say grainy photo shows kit," 29 June 2017
Avoid areas where coyotes may be denning or feeding/hiding pups.

— daily news staff, The Mercury News, "Daily News HomePage for Friday, March 17," 17 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of den

13th century

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

Den

abbreviation

Definition of Den

Denmark

DEN Defined for English Language Learners

den

play

noun

Definition of den for English Language Learners

: the home of some kinds of wild animals
: an informal and comfortable room in a house
: a small and quiet room in a house where someone goes to read, work, etc.

DEN Defined for Kids

den

play

noun \ ˈden \

Definition of den for Students

1 :the shelter or resting place of a wild animal

a fox's den

2 :a quiet or private room in a home

3 :a hiding place (as for thieves)

Law Dictionary

den

abbreviation

legal Definition of den

denied

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Examples of den in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of den

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Synonyms

Related Words

den

Definition of den

Recent Examples of den from the Web

First Known Use of den

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

Den

Definition of Den

Phrases Related to DEN

Related Phrases

DEN Defined for English Language Learners

den

Definition of den for English Language Learners

DEN Defined for Kids

den

Definition of den for Students

Law Dictionary

den

legal Definition of den

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