spelunk
Americanverb (used without object)
Etymology
Origin of spelunk
Back formation from spelunker, spelunking
Explanation
To spelunk is to explore natural caves. Geologists do a lot of spelunking. This is a weird-looking word, but it has a simple meaning: to explore natural caves. Scientists who study natural formations of the Earth do a lot of spelunking. Through spelunking, you can find evidence of difference minerals, as well as fossils of various animals. Archaeologists spelunk to find remnants of previous civilizations. Some people spelunk as a hobby: they are spelunkers.
Vocabulary lists containing spelunk
Please Ignore Vera Dietz
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Instructions for Dancing
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The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wineman isn’t afraid to spelunk truly deranged depths, but what’s remarkable is how much style he incorporates into the film’s most outré moments.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Blood Incantation’s talk might feel like a spelunk into a hyper-omnivorous groupmind, but other episodes show minds getting changed in real time.
From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2023
Nonskiers in the crowd can do everything from bobsled on the world’s fastest track to spelunk in an ancient ice cave.
From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2019
Maybe as a result of these unfair conditions, Wansink perhaps understandably sent his research assistant to spelunk through what had been very costly data to collect.
From Slate • Feb. 3, 2017
Every few months, I spelunk into the world of online indie television.
From The New Yorker • Jun. 9, 2014
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
