cage

¹

[keyj]

noun

1. a boxlike enclosure having wires, bars, or the like, for confining and displaying birds or animals.

   Synonyms: pound, enclosure, coop, pen

2. anything that confines or imprisons; prison.

3. something resembling a cage in structure, as for a cashier or bank teller.

4. the car or enclosed platform of an elevator.

5. Mining.,  an enclosed platform for raising and lowering people and cars in a mine shaft.

6. any skeleton framework.

7. Baseball.,  a movable backstop for use mainly in batting practice.

8. a frame with a net attached to it, forming the goal in ice hockey and field hockey.

9. Basketball: Older Use.,  the basket.

10. a loose, sheer or lacy overdress worn with a slip or a close-fitting dress.

11. Ordnance.,  a steel framework for supporting guns.

12. Machinery.,  retainer.

verb (used with object)

caged, caging 

1. to put or confine in or as if in a cage.

2. Sports.,  to shoot (as a puck) into a cage so as to score a goal.

Cage

²

[keyj]

noun

1. John, 1912–1992, U.S. composer.

cage

¹

/ keɪdʒ /

noun

1. 1. an enclosure, usually made with bars or wire, for keeping birds, monkeys, mice, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      cagebird

2. a thing or place that confines or imprisons

3. something resembling a cage in function or structure

   the rib cage

4. the enclosed platform of a lift, esp as used in a mine

5. engineering a skeleton ring device that ensures that the correct amount of space is maintained between the individual rollers or balls in a rolling bearing

6. informal,  the basket used in basketball

7. informal,  the goal in ice hockey

8. a steel framework on which guns are supported

9. informal,  to upset or anger someone

verb

1. (tr) to confine in or as in a cage

Cage

²

/ keɪdʒ /

noun

1. John. 1912–92, US composer of experimental music for a variety of conventional, modified, or invented instruments. He evolved a type of music apparently undetermined by the composer, such as in Imaginary Landscape (1951) for 12 radio sets. Other works include Reunion (1968), Apartment Building 1776 (1976), and Europeras 3 and 4 (1990)

Other Word Forms

• cageless adjective
• cagelike adjective
• recage verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cage¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin cavea “birdcage,” equivalent to cav(us) “hollow” + -ea, feminine of -eus adjective suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cage¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin cavea enclosure, from cavus hollow

Example Sentences

A good way to protect them is fairly basic: Put up protective cages.

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I see something in its eyes, the same caged look that the neighborhood stray cats get when Ma catches them clawing up our mailbox.

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“Missing? How is that possible, dear? I thought the cage was locked.”

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“Bravo! What an adventure you had! And it also explains the smell. But children, remember, climbing into zoo cages is not something to make a habit of. I hope you will keep that in mind.”

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The panda refused to be lured into the transport cage, so a tranquilizer dart was used.

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Related Words

• crate 
• enclosure 
• jail 
• pen