den

[ den ]
See synonyms for den on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. a cave used as a place of shelter or concealment.

  2. a squalid or vile abode or place: dens of misery.

  3. one of the units of a cub scout pack, analogous to a patrol in the Boy Scouts.

verb (used with object),denned, den·ning.
  1. to drive or pursue (an animal) into its den.

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

verb (used without object),denned, den·ning.
  1. to live in or as if in a den.

Origin of den

1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English denn; compare early Dutch denne floor, cave, den, German Tenne floor

Other definitions for Den. (2 of 2)

Den.

abbreviation
  1. Denmark.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use den in a sentence

  • Over the mantel in our parlor we have a picture of the lion's den, and it is one of the choicest of our family treasures.

  • "'Bared the lion in hith den—the Doog-dug-lath——'" Abraham stopped and took a long breath.

  • Then he returned to the den and found his people recovering somewhat from their surprise.

    The Garret and the Garden | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Mr. Ralph found me in his den, I was arranging one of his tables, and he said that he wanted to talk to me.

    Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater
  • Often the doctor came to Hill Street and sat for long periods with the general in that small, cosy room which was his den.

    The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux

British Dictionary definitions for den (1 of 2)

den

/ (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

  1. a squalid or wretched room or retreat

  2. a site or haunt: a den of vice

  3. Scot a small wooded valley; dingle

  4. Scot and Northern English dialect a place of sanctuary in certain catching games; home or base

verbdens, denning or denned
  1. (intr) to live in or as if in a den

Origin of den

1
Old English denn; related to Old High German tenni threshing floor, early Dutch denne low ground, den, cave

British Dictionary definitions for Den. (2 of 2)

Den.

abbreviation for
  1. Denmark

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012