cavern
Americannoun
-
a cave, especially one that is large and mostly underground.
-
Pathology. a cavity that is produced by disease, especially one produced in the lungs by tuberculosis.
verb (used with object)
-
to enclose in or as if in a cavern.
-
to hollow out to form a cavern.
noun
verb
-
to shut in or as if in a cavern
-
to hollow out
Etymology
Origin of cavern
1325–75; Middle English caverne < Latin caverna, equivalent to cav ( us ) hollow + -erna, as in cisterna cistern
Explanation
A cavern is a large cave or a large chamber in a cave. Or, if your bedroom is very dark, your mother might want you to open the blinds and let some light into that cavern. The word cavern is a late Middle English word that comes from the Latin root cavus, meaning “hollow.” Cavern typically describes a cave, but it can refer to any large enclosed space, especially a space that's dark like a cave. You might sit in a vast cavern when you go to the opera. Cavern can also be used figuratively — you could explore the dark cavern of your mind.
Vocabulary lists containing cavern
Physical Geography - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Geological Features
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Physical Geography - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The cave, an underwater system which extends for hundreds of meters through multiple chambers and internal passages, begins with a first large, bright cavern with a sandy bottom.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
Down a corner on the ground floor was a shaft descending more than 30 feet underground that then opened up into a cavern presumably used as a depot.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025
He soon grew to love the cavern system, which dates back 350 million years, and by the age of seven he had explored it more than 100 times.
From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024
As we make our way into the vast cavern, my guide explains how Eberhard dissected samples and sent them to England for analysis.
From Salon • Aug. 23, 2024
He felt a wild exultation as he stepped into the cavern.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
