speleology

or spe·lae·ol·o·gy

[ spee-lee-ol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the exploration and study of caves.

speleology

/ ˌspiːlɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌspiːlɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the scientific study of caves, esp in respect of their geological formation, flora and fauna, etc
2. the sport or pastime of exploring caves

speleology

/ spē′lē-ŏl′ə-jē /

1. The exploration and scientific study of the geological and ecological features of caves.

Derived Forms

• speleological, adjective
• ˌspeleˈologist, noun

Other Words From

• spe·le·o·log·i·cal [spee-lee-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• spele·olo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of speleology¹

1890–95; < Latin spēlae ( um ) ( spelaean ) + -o- + -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of speleology¹

C19: from Latin spēlaeum cave

Example Sentences

In Italy we are told of “the fallen angel of French speleology”, Marcel Loubens, who winches himself into an abyss only to have his belt clip snap.

From The Guardian

Caving, or speleology as it is sometimes called, can give you the chance to abseil down underground waterfalls, squeeze through holes and abseil down rifts.

From The Guardian

In 1964, when he was 18, the high school dropout parlayed his amateur prowess in speleology into a job as a technician at the newly formed National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.

From Science Magazine