cavern

[ kav-ern ]

noun

1. a cave, especially one that is large and mostly underground.
2. Pathology. a cavity that is produced by disease, especially one produced in the lungs by tuberculosis.

verb (used with object)

1. to enclose in or as if in a cavern.
2. to hollow out to form a cavern.

cavern

/ ˈkævən /

noun

1. a cave, esp when large and formed by underground water, or a large chamber in a cave

verb

1. to shut in or as if in a cavern
2. to hollow out

cavern

/ kăv′ərn /

1. A large cave.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavern¹

1325–75; Middle English caverne < Latin caverna, equivalent to cav ( us ) hollow + -erna, as in cisterna cistern

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavern¹

C14: from Old French caverne, from Latin caverna, from cavus hollow; see cave ¹

Example Sentences

According to the article’s authors, the US Geological Survey should be charged with scanning the country for underground caverns where large amounts of hydrogen could be stored.

From Singularity Hub 

It’s easy to become disoriented exploring the game’s numerous underwater caverns.

From Washington Post

As these rocks dissolved, caves and caverns were carved out over an enormous length of time — measured not by the tick-tock of clocks but by the drip-drip of water — forming the Shenandoah Valley caverns we visit today.

From Washington Post

Professional caving means entering a world more dangerous than any well-trod tourist cavern.

From Popular-Science

The presence of charcoal suggested fire, and the presence of fire deep in an icy cavern suggested human activity.

From Science News

The Beatles Story Museum features a replica of the Cavern Club and a Fab 4D animated cinema show.

From The Daily Beast

Next door to the museum is a clone of the Cavern Club, the Beatle Café and the Sala John Lennon stand-up comedy theatre.

From The Daily Beast

Her body was covered with a blanket when it was found inside a cavern of the ancient walls, obscuring it from view.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Cunningham's description of the drawings of the natives in a cavern on Clack's Island.

From Project Gutenberg

It was something which announced itself; a chill breath that seemed to issue from some vast cavern wherein discords waited.

From Project Gutenberg

I have written at least a dozen about this cavern, and I've described it without even forgetting a single sprig of moss.

From Project Gutenberg

But at some distance from the cavern he dropped his pipe, and on stooping to pick it up he picked up instead a little satin shoe.

From Project Gutenberg

Lake Luna was a-glare from the mainland to Cavern Island, and the freight boats had given over running until the spring break-up.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cave
• grotto
• pothole