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.

Related Words

• crater