cave

1 of 3

noun

ˈkāv 

plural caves

1

: a natural chamber or series of chambers in the earth or in the side of a hill or cliff

2

: a usually underground chamber for storage

a wine cave

also : the articles stored there

3

: a place providing privacy or seclusion from others

When a friend dragged her out of her cave to go salsa dancing for the first time, the rhythms … stepped into her soul …

—Leslie Guttman

see also man cave

cave

2 of 3

verb (1)

caved; caving

transitive verb

: to form a cave in or under

intransitive verb

: to explore caves especially as a sport or hobby

caver

ˈkā-vər 

noun

cave

3 of 3

verb (2)

ˈkāv 

caved; caving

intransitive verb

1

: to fall in or down especially from being undermined

—usually used with in

2

: to cease to resist : submit

—usually used with in

transitive verb

: to cause to fall or collapse

—usually used with in

Synonyms

Noun

• antre
• cavern
• delve [archaic]
• grot
• grotto

Verb (2)

• buckle
• collapse
• crumple
• founder
• give
• go
• go out
• implode
• tumble
• yield

Examples of cave in a Sentence

Noun

Kentucky's Mammoth Cave is actually a series of large chambers on five levels.

Verb (2)

the wall caved in when a tree fell on it

I caved in to my bibliomania and bought two more books last week

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The film’s synopsis reads: Harris embarks on a perilous new cave diving expedition that will push the limits of adventure and force him to confront his deepest fears. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025

This 250-foot-wide cave was once a massive rock, but wind eroded the sandstone over many years, yielding this striking natural wonder. —Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 2 Feb. 2025

Verb

View Comments Since then, dozens of brands — Walmart, Ford and Target, to name just a few — have seemingly caved to right-wing activists by announcing rollbacks to their DEI programs. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025

The house had been damaged, too: windows broken, parts of the roof caved in. —Michael Holtz, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin cava, noun derivative from feminine of cavus "hollow, concave" — more at hole entry 1

Verb (1)

Middle English caven, in part derivative of cave cave entry 1, in part borrowed from Latin cavāre "to hollow out" — more at excavate

Verb (2)

probably alteration of calve

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

1513, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cave

• cave bear
• cave dweller
• cave-in
• cave painting
• man cave

Kids Definition

cave

1 of 2 noun

ˈkāv 

: a natural underground chamber or series of chambers open to the surface

cave

2 of 2 verb

caved; caving

: to fall or cause to fall in or down : collapse

—usually used with in