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

   the oral cavity

4. See cavity resonator
   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

Pimples, yeast infections, and dental cavities are examples of dysbiotic diseases in people—conditions caused not necessarily by newly arrived pathogens, but by ever-present microbes that bloom and harm their host.

From Nautilus

Now scientists have investigated how much of this soot came from the wildfires, and how much came from older materials like coal and oil in rocks from the cavity, known as the Chicxulub impact crater.

From Popular-Science

Studies have suggested that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, first binds to cells in the body’s nasal cavity and then begins replicating, spreading through the body’s respiratory tract.

From Fortune

The kayak was built on a double-hull design that creates a deep cavity in the center of the boat.

From Popular-Science

For example, two photons bouncing around in the cavity might represent a qubit with a value of 0, and four photons might indicate a value of 1.

From Science News

Some have speculated that cessation of CPR decreases pressure in the chest cavity, allowing blood to return to the heart.

From The Daily Beast

The force of the two reacting spreads the foam through the chest cavity, hardening to apply pressure to any bleed sites.

From The Daily Beast

Injuries within the chest cavity may not be readily visible to medics, and are difficult to compress, King said.

From The Daily Beast

Take a “cavity bomb,” for example: explosives hidden in rolls of fat, between butt cheeks.

From The Daily Beast

Heaven help us the first time a would-be suicide bomber is caught with explosives hidden in a body cavity.

From The Daily Beast

There appears a rude attempt to picture the mouth cavity and to show those interesting accessories, the teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

In addition, chylous and chyloid exudates are occasionally met, particularly in the peritoneal cavity.

From Project Gutenberg

In this specimen the tubular cavity of the stalactite is still open.

From Project Gutenberg

All about the cavity in the sand lay stones big and little, timbers, stakes, loops of rope.

From Project Gutenberg

They were carried up to the top of the tree, and disappeared, still fighting, within the cavity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crater

More About Cavity

What is a cavity?

A cavity is a pit or hole in a tooth caused by the decay of the enamel and bone, such as you might get if you don’t brush your teeth regularly.

A cavity is more generally any hollow place or crater, as in When the old building was torn down, all that was left was a huge cavity in the ground.

A cavity is also any other hole, divet, or pit in the body, such as the spinal cavity, which surrounds your spinal cord.

Example: That cavity in your molar is probably from all the soda you drink.

Where does cavity come from?

The first records of the term cavity come from the 1500s. It ultimately comes from the Latin cavus, meaning “hollow.” A cavity is always something that is hollow, with the context it is used in telling you how deep the cavity is and how large it is.

Cavity can be used to describe any empty area, which is useful in construction and production, as many products and materials are made with a cavity in the middle either for soundness purposes or to save money on materials. For example, a cavity wall is a wall of a building that has room in the middle for insulation or ventilation.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to cavity?

• cavitied (adjective)
• subcavity (noun)
• uncavitied (adjective)

What are some synonyms for cavity?

• crater
• pit
• void

What are some words that share a root or word element with cavity? 

• cave
• cavity block
• cavity wall

What are some words that often get used in discussing cavity?

• chamber
• crater
• dent
• tooth

How is cavity used in real life?

Cavity is frequently used to refer to decaying in one’s teeth, but it is also often used to discuss much larger hollow spaces.

I'm such a sweet tooth ….. I can't help it 😍😍😍😍 sorry cavities ✌️😘

— ♕MsJane (@dinahjane97) September 2, 2015

Just had my first cavity filled. Actually my first 5! How did that happen since the last time I saw my dentist?!

— James Maslow (@jamesmaslow) June 11, 2014

British Gas to cut 500 jobs. Some of them are understood to be in Leeds. The posts will be in its loft and cavity wall insulation business.

— BBC Yorkshire (@BBCLookNorth) February 2, 2016

 

Try using cavity!

Is cavity used correctly in the following sentence?

That cavity under your arm is called your armpit.