cavity

[ kav-i-tee ]

noun

, plural cav·i·ties.

1. any hollow place; hollow.
2. Anatomy. a hollow space within the body, an organ, a bone, etc.
3. a hollow space or a pit in a tooth, most commonly produced by caries. A cavity may be artificially made to support dental restorations.

cavity

/ ˈkævɪtɪ /

noun

1. a hollow space; hole
2. dentistry a soft decayed area on a tooth See caries
3. any empty or hollow space within the body

   the oral cavity

4. electronics See cavity resonator

cavity

/ kăv′ĭ-tē /

1. A hollow; a hole.
2. A hollow area within the body.
3. A pitted area in a tooth caused by caries.

Other Words From

• cavi·tied adjective
• sub·cavi·ty noun plural subcavities
• un·cavi·tied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavity¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French cavite from Late Latin cavitās “hollowness,” equivalent to Latin cav(us) “hollow” + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavity¹

C16: from French cavité, from Late Latin cavitās, from Latin cavus hollow

Synonym Study

See hole.

Example Sentences

These cavities in the earth trap time, preserving unique, delicate ecosystems for centuries.

From BBC

Regular visits to the dentist to fill cavities used to be a shared ordeal for millions of American children and adults.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than shrink the device, SungWoo Youn, a physicist at South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science, and colleagues decided to use a higher frequency resonance, or mode, of the same cavity.

From Science Magazine

After confirming successful plant growth, the 'soil' was baked leaving only the glass with root cavities.

From Science Daily

Colloid cysts typically form in a fluid-filled cavity in the centre of the brain, and are themselves filled with fluid, the Brains Trust says.

From BBC

Related Words

• crater