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

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

It’s cool in the room, as if I’m no longer in the humid underground cavern— but in a whole different dimension.

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The congenial thumping of the wolf’s tail against the stone floor echoed in hidden caverns far below.

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Domestic storage caverns are starting this heating season filled with about 4% more gas than the five-year average, which is similar to last year.

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Finally, the flow of floodwater slowed, and when the robot skidded to a stop, she was in an ice cavern.

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Reloading the approximately 60 caverns that hold the emergency barrels was never going to be fast, or cheap, experts say.

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Related Words

• cave 
• grotto 
• pothole