cave

[ keyv ]

noun

1. a hollow in the earth, especially one opening more or less horizontally into a hill, mountain, etc.
2. a storage cellar, especially for wine.
3. English History. a secession, or a group of seceders, from a political party on some special question.

verb (used with object)

, caved, cav·ing.

1. to hollow out.
2. Mining.
   1. to cause (overlying material) to fall into a stope, sublevel, or the like.
   2. to cause (supports, as stulls or sets) to collapse beneath overlying material.
   3. to fill (a stope or the like) with caved-in material:

      sub-level caving.

verb (used without object)

, caved, cav·ing.

1. to cave in.

verb phrase

1. 1. to fall in; collapse.
   2. to cause to fall in or collapse.
   3. Informal. to yield; submit; surrender:

      The opposition caved in before our superior arguments.

cave

¹

/ ˈkeɪvɪ /

noun

1. guard or lookout (esp in the phrase keep cave )

sentence substitute

1. watch out!

cave

²

/ keɪv /

noun

1. an underground hollow with access from the ground surface or from the sea, often found in limestone areas and on rocky coastlines
2. history a secession or a group seceding from a political party on some issue See Adullamite
3. modifier living in caves

verb

1. tr to hollow out

cave

/ kāv /

1. A naturally occurring underground hollow or passage, especially one with an opening to the surface of the Earth. Caves can form through a variety of processes, including the dissolution of limestone by flowing water, the differential cooling of volcanic magma (which occurs when the outside surface of the lava cools, but the inside continues to flow downwards, forming a hollow tube), or the action of wind and waves along a rocky coast.

Other Words From

• cavelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cave¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin cava (feminine singular), Latin cava, neuter plural of cavum hole, noun use of neuter of cavus hollow

Word History and Origins

Origin of cave¹

from Latin cavē! beware!

Origin of cave²

C13: from Old French, from Latin cava, plural of cavum cavity, from cavus hollow

Example Sentences

“Neon Pill” — Cage the Elephant “Song of the Lake” — Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds “Starburster” — Fontaines D.C.

From Los Angeles Times

Launay has frequently worked with modern rock acts such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Idles and Nick Cave, but his career stretches back to the early U.K. punk and postpunk scenes.

From Los Angeles Times

But honestly, spending time with Williams’ news cave jamboree wasn’t terrible.

From Salon

It was a gorgeous afternoon, unusually warm and sunny, and there were only four other patrons, two couples, sitting on stools in the darkened cave of the bar.

From Slate

Bennett, Roy and five of the Mr. Christmas hopefuls gathered at Rolf’s German Restaurant in Manhattan, a kitschy, Christmas-themed establishment that feels like a cave decorated by Mrs. Claus, with a whirl of twinkle lights, gleaming metallic ornaments and faux-evergreen branches dripping from the ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cavern
• grotto