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 results indicated that two of the individuals found in Ranis were closely related to the one in the Czechia cave — within five or six degrees in family relation. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

The waves push the algae that grows on the limestone shelf and small invertebrates that the fish eat deeper into the cave — most likely too deep for the little swimmers to access. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Verb

Dangerous snow and ice have already piled up in parts of the Northeast, causing havoc on roads and roofs to cave in. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 4 Dec. 2024

The fact that both of them are now calling you names for not caving to your sister's demand is manipulative. —Erin Clack, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024

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