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• den
  den

  noun

  the lair or shelter of a wild animal, especially a predatory mammal.
• Den.
  Den.

  abbreviation

  Denmark.

den

¹ American  

[den] / dɛn /

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.

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verb (used with object)

denned, denning

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

2. to kill (an animal) inside its den.

verb (used without object)

denned, denning

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

Den. ² American  

abbreviation

1. Denmark.

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den ¹ British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Den. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Denmark

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Etymology

Origin of den

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

Explanation

Where’s the one place that bears go to hibernate and you go to watch the big game? It’s the den, a secluded room or shelter. Den is an Old English word meaning “shelter for a wild animal.” While we still use it in this sense, the word has taken on some additional meanings. For example, den can refer to a room that's used primarily for relaxing, watching television, and socializing with friends. (If your friends tend to act wild at times, then perhaps this definition isn’t so far off from the original one.) Den can also mean "a hideout for criminals."

Example Sentences

The five-bedroom mansion with soaring ceilings and a gourmet kitchen features a rockin’ lower level that includes a wine cellar, gym, massage room, creative work area, kitchen, vocal booth, den, and guest suite.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

After gathering at the supper table to dine and talk about their days, parents and children moved into the den to be entertained by the novel contraptions.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

“I put my little piece of plastic in the kitchen, 15 feet away from the den where I work,” Kirshner writes.

From Slate • Apr. 26, 2026

It is thought the fox chose to create a den on one of the the islands there because it gives her cubs greater security.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

Squares of light shining from inside the den glow in patches on the grass.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• cave
• hotbed
• nest
• sanctuary