den

¹

[ den ]

noun

1. the lair or shelter of a wild animal, especially a predatory mammal.
2. a room, often secluded, in a house or apartment, designed to provide a quiet, comfortable, and informal atmosphere for conversation, reading, writing, etc.
3. a cave used as a place of shelter or concealment.
4. a squalid or vile abode or place:

   dens of misery.

5. one of the units of a cub scout pack, analogous to a patrol in the Boy Scouts.

verb (used with object)

, denned, den·ning.

1. to drive or pursue (an animal) into its den.
2. to kill (an animal) inside its den.

verb (used without object)

, denned, den·ning.

1. to live in or as if in a den.

Den.

²

abbreviation for

1. Denmark.

Den.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Denmark

den

²

/ dɛn /

noun

1. the habitat or retreat of a lion or similar wild animal; lair
2. a small or secluded room in a home, often used for carrying on a hobby
3. a squalid or wretched room or retreat
4. a site or haunt

   a den of vice

5. a small wooded valley; dingle
6. dialect.
   a place of sanctuary in certain catching games; home or base

verb

1. intr to live in or as if in a den

Word History and Origins

Origin of den¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English denn; compare early Dutch denne floor, cave, den, German Tenne floor

Word History and Origins

Origin of den¹

Old English denn; related to Old High German tenni threshing floor, early Dutch denne low ground, den, cave

Example Sentences

In a chapter titled “Fox Den,” he braves brambles in an attempt to follow his neighborhood urban fox.

From The Daily Beast

It is unknown whether John Doe is David Neuman, who was once an executive at DEN.

From The Daily Beast

The occasion was his Pitch At The Palace event, a Dragon's den-style forum for entrepreneurs to seek investment.

From The Daily Beast

He introduces me to the head bartender, Peter Van Den Bossche.

From The Daily Beast

Heinz wrote the book in his makeshift den, a bantam-size office that he had constructed off the TV room in a corner of his garage.

From The Daily Beast

Over the mantel in our parlor we have a picture of the lion's den, and it is one of the choicest of our family treasures.

From Project Gutenberg

"'Bared the lion in hith den—the Doog-dug-lath——'" Abraham stopped and took a long breath.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he returned to the den and found his people recovering somewhat from their surprise.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Ralph found me in his den, I was arranging one of his tables, and he said that he wanted to talk to me.

From Project Gutenberg

Often the doctor came to Hill Street and sat for long periods with the general in that small, cosy room which was his den.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cave
• hotbed
• nest
• sanctuary