den

1 of 3

noun

ˈden 

1

: the lair of a wild usually predatory animal

2

a(1)

: a hollow or cavern used especially as a hideout

(2)

: a center of secret activity

b

: a small usually squalid dwelling

3

: a comfortable usually secluded room

4

: a subdivision of a Cub Scout pack made up of two or more boys

5

British : a small structure built by children as a place to play, hide, or provide shelter

We roamed the fields and made dens in the hedges, dragging old logs and brushwood with scraps of canvas and rope to make shelters to hide in.

—Pat Smith

den

2 of 3

verb

denned; denning

intransitive verb

: to live in or retire to a den

polar bears den in ice caves or snowdrifts

transitive verb

: to drive into a den

Den

3 of 3

abbreviation

Denmark

Synonyms

Noun

• burrow
• hole
• house
• lair
• lodge

Examples of den in a Sentence

Noun

The bears will spend most of the winter in their den.

The TV is in the den.

He spent most evenings in the den reading and smoking his pipe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The brothers gunned down their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, with 14 shots as the couple sat watching TV in the den of their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

Julian’s quest for answers will only lure him deeper into this den of vipers, but teasing out Sofia’s intentions may be the steamiest — and deadliest — game of all. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024

Verb

Wet bars are often nooks in a living room, dining room, library, or den versus being separate rooms of their own, adds Leah O’Connell, principal designer at Leah O’Connell Design in San Anselmo, California. —Rebecca Shinners, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2024

Ringed seals, polar bears' primary source of prey, need adequate snow depth to successfully den and protect their young in the springtime. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English denn; akin to Old English denu valley, Old High German tenni threshing floor

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing den

• den mother
• den of iniquity
• lion's den

Kids Definition

den

noun

ˈden

1

: the shelter or resting place of a wild animal

2

: a hiding place (as for thieves)

3

: a dirty run-down place in which people live or gather

dens of misery

4

: a comfortable room set apart usually for reading and relaxation

5

: a division of a Cub Scout pack

Legal Definition

den

abbreviation

denied