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

Example Sentences

Like the den, the walls of the guest house are painted a warm green hue for a relaxing feel.

From Los Angeles Times

"We remain prudent in our near-term expectations for beer market conditions," chief executive Dolf van den Brink said in a statement.

From Barron's

“We remain prudent in our near-term expectations for beer market conditions,” said Dolf van den Brink, who is set to step down from his role at the end of May.

From The Wall Street Journal

This allowed biologists to locate several dens and gain a better understanding of the foxes’ reproductive patterns.

From Los Angeles Times

The human remains appear to come from what was once a carnivore den.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cave
• hotbed
• nest
• sanctuary