den

¹

[ den ]

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.
3. a cave used as a place of shelter or concealment.
4. a squalid or vile abode or place:

   dens of misery.

5. 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.

Den.

²

abbreviation for

1. Denmark.

Den.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Denmark

den

²

/ 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
3. a squalid or wretched room or retreat
4. a site or haunt

   a den of vice

5. a small wooded valley; dingle
6. dialect.
   a place of sanctuary in certain catching games; home or base

verb

1. intr to live in or as if in a den

Word History and Origins

Origin of den¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of den¹

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

Example Sentences

The march ended outside the grand building of the Russian embassy on Unter Den Linden, where the three protest leaders clambered onto the back of a truck, linked arms and thanked the crowd for their support.

From BBC

Also in Wolverhampton, Wattimena progressed by winning a 10-9 thriller of his own against Dimitri van den Bergh.

From BBC

Elsewhere, Dimitri van den Bergh finished runner-up to Littler after a 5-1 demolition of Keane Barry while Mike De Decker claimed a 5-0 whitewash over Michael Smith to secure second spot in Group E.

From BBC

Previous keeper Leo op den Brouw, 70, had spent every second month alone on the island for the past 25 years.

From BBC

Standing in front of a green cinder block garage papered in Trump-Pence signs, a bright yellow garden hose within arm’s reach, the once-revered mayor of New York announced plans to file lawsuits in multiple states and painted Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold in a pivotal swing state, as a den of corruption where the election was being stolen from Trump in broad daylight.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cave
• hotbed
• nest
• sanctuary