What is "cave" in English? Definition and Explanations

Updated: 28-05-2026 by Wikilanguages.net
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What does cave mean in English? Meaning of cave definition and abbreviation with examples.

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What is "cave" in English? Definition and Explanations

Meaning of "cave": a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

Noun

  • Meaning: a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
  • Synonyms: cave
  • Hyponyms: cavern cove grot grotto
  • Hypernyms: formation geological formation
  • Instance Hyponyms: fingal's cave lascaux
  • Part Holonyms: floor roof stalactite stalagmite wall
  • Meaning of "cave": hollow out as if making a cave or opening

    Verb

  • Meaning: hollow out as if making a cave or opening
  • Example: The river was caving the banks
  • Synonyms: cave undermine
  • Hyponyms: sap
  • Hypernyms: core out hollow hollow out
  • Meaning of "cave": explore natural caves

    Verb

  • Meaning: explore natural caves
  • Synonyms: cave spelunk
  • Hypernyms: explore
  • Adjective: A large, naturally-occurring cavity formed underground, or in the face of a cliff or a hillside. 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 16, The Mirror and the Lamp: The preposterous altruism too! […] Resist not evil. It is an insane immolation of self—as bad intrinsically as fakirs stabbing themselves or anchorites warping their spines in caves scarcely large enough for a fair-sized dog. We found a cave on the mountainside where we could take shelter.1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 16, The Mirror and the Lamp: The preposterous altruism too! […] Resist not evil. It is an insane immolation of self—as bad intrinsically as fakirs stabbing themselves or anchorites warping their spines in caves scarcely large enough for a fair-sized dog.A hole, depression, or gap in earth or rock, whether natural or man-made. 1918, Edward Alfred Steiner, Uncle Joe's Lincoln[1], page 52: Every boy at one time or another has dug a cave; I suppose because ages and ages ago his ancestors had to live in caves, […]1918, Edward Alfred Steiner, Uncle Joe's Lincoln[1], page 52: Every boy at one time or another has dug a cave; I suppose because ages and ages ago his ancestors had to live in caves, […]A storage cellar, especially for wine or cheese. This wine has been aged in our cave for thirty years.A place of retreat, such as a man cave. My room was a cozy cave where I could escape from my family.(caving) A naturally-occurring cavity in bedrock which is large enough to be entered by an adult. It was not strictly a cave, but a narrow fissure in the rock.(nuclear physics) A shielded area where nuclear experiments can be carried out. 1986, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Radiation Alarms and Access Control Systems[2], ISBN 0913392847, page 45: These potential radiation fields or radioactive material levels may be the result of normal operations (ie, radiation in a target cave) […]1986, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Radiation Alarms and Access Control Systems[2], ISBN 0913392847, page 45: These potential radiation fields or radioactive material levels may be the result of normal operations (ie, radiation in a target cave) […](drilling, uncountable) Debris, particularly broken rock, which falls into a drill hole and interferes with drilling. 1951, James Deans Cumming, Diamond Drill Handbook[3], page 134: […] the casing can then be placed in the hole without encountering any cave and core drilling in rock can begin.1951, James Deans Cumming, Diamond Drill Handbook[3], page 134: […] the casing can then be placed in the hole without encountering any cave and core drilling in rock can begin.(mining) A collapse or cave-in. 1885, Angelo Heilprin, Town Geology: The Lesson of the Philadelphia Rocks[4], page 79: The "breasts" of marble which unite the opposite lateral walls have been left standing in order to prevent a possible cave of the wall on either side.1885, Angelo Heilprin, Town Geology: The Lesson of the Philadelphia Rocks[4], page 79: The "breasts" of marble which unite the opposite lateral walls have been left standing in order to prevent a possible cave of the wall on either side.(figuratively, also slang) The vagina. 1976, Chester Himes, My Life of Absurdity[5], page 59: Then without a word she lay on her back in the bed, her dark blond pubic hair rising about her dark wet cave like dried brush about a hidden spring.1976, Chester Himes, My Life of Absurdity[5], page 59: Then without a word she lay on her back in the bed, her dark blond pubic hair rising about her dark wet cave like dried brush about a hidden spring.(slang, politics, often "Cave") A group that breaks from a larger political party or faction on a particular issue. 1964, Leon D. Epstein, British Politics in the Suez Crisis[6], page 125: Without joining the cave, Hyde had abstained both in December 1956 and May 1957.1964, Leon D. Epstein, British Politics in the Suez Crisis[6], page 125: Without joining the cave, Hyde had abstained both in December 1956 and May 1957.(obsolete) Any hollow place, or part; a cavity. Francis Bacon the cave of the earFrancis Bacon the cave of the ear
  • Synonyms:

    cavern, grotto, cavity, pothole, den, hollow, rock shelter, subterrane, subterranean area,

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    cave in English: cave
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