grotto

noun grot·to \ ˈgrä-(ˌ)tō \

Definition of grotto

plural grottoes also grottos

1 :cave

2 :an artificial recess or structure made to resemble a natural cave

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Examples of grotto in a Sentence

at the heart of the shrine is a small rocky grotto into which pilgrims can descend

Recent Examples of grotto from the Web

In addition to the titular dolphin statuary, there are countless balconies, spiral staircases, wet bars, a grotto with a hot tub, a ballroom and a swimming pool.

— arika herron, Indianapolis Star, "Thanks to Airbnb, you can stay at Indy's infamous 'dolphin mansion'," 26 Aug. 2017
Carl Mercier and his merry band of carpenters built a clever sailing craft fit for a king, Ariel's underwater grotto and the lair of the evil seawitch Urusula.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Prepare To Be Swept Away By 'The Little Mermaid'," 16 Aug. 2017
The spectacular grotto pool at the Grove Park Inn entices you with massaging waterfalls and mineral baths.

— annette thompson, USA TODAY, "These activity-based spa resorts give you a leg up on fitness," 13 Aug. 2017
Baby Ariel appears in her grotto, cuddling a beloved dinglehopper next to a resting (plush) Flounder.

— miranda siwak, Good Housekeeping, "Itty-Bitty Disney Princesses Are Brought to Life in Enchanting Photo Shoot," 25 July 2017
The 435-acre Holy Hill site — which includes a grotto, a monastery, a cafe, a gift store and an observation tower with 30-mile views of the rolling countryside — was first graced with a log chapel in 1863.

— bill pennington, New York Times, "For Golfers Who Curse Their Play at the U.S. Open, There’s Holy Hill," 11 June 2017
The home has six bedrooms, four and one-half baths, a study, game room and media room plus a lagoon-style pool with grotto and spa.

— star-telegram, star-telegram.com, "Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage | Colleyville," 7 June 2017
A whimsical grotto has been added as the central element of the fountain wall.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "This is what a $90 million water fountain looks like," 29 May 2017
Bethlehem is lively and crowded, home to Palestinian Muslims and Christians and the Church of the Nativity, the Byzantine-era sacred site built over the grotto where the faithful believe Jesus was born.

— philip rucker, Washington Post, "Palestinians welcome Trump’s talk of peace but offer lessons in two-state demands," 23 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of grotto

Italian grotta, grotto, from Latin crypta cavern, crypt

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First Known Use: 1617

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grotto Synonyms

Synonyms

antre, cavern, delve [archaic], grot, cave

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

GROTTO Defined for English Language Learners

grotto

noun

Definition of grotto for English Language Learners

: a small cave

GROTTO Defined for Kids

grotto

noun grot·to \ ˈgrä-tō \

Definition of grotto for Students

plural grottoes

1 :¹cave, cavern

2 :an artificial structure like a cave

Learn More about grotto

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

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grotto

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Examples of grotto in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of grotto

grotto Synonyms

Synonyms

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GROTTO Defined for English Language Learners

grotto

Definition of grotto for English Language Learners

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grotto

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