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

If those perceptions were accurate, we’d all be back to living in caves by now.

From Salon

This discovery indicates microbial activity and microorganisms, such as bacteria, were once active in the caves.

From Science Daily

Liberals laughing about the continued destruction of Palestine under Trump or cracking up at the thought of Trump voters with family members potentially deported have caved to the dark side.

From Salon

Any useful parts from Hebridean Isles will end up in a large CalMac warehouse in Gourock - an Aladdin's cave of ferry equipment that is used to keep the fleet going.

From BBC

Charcoal found alongside stone tools and animal bones inside one cave on Lutruwita has been dated to 39,900 years ago.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• cavern
• grotto