cavern

[kav-ern]

noun

1. a cave, especially one that is large and mostly underground.

2. Pathology.,  a cavity that is produced by disease, especially one produced in the lungs by tuberculosis.

verb (used with object)

1. to enclose in or as if in a cavern.

2. to hollow out to form a cavern.

cavern

/ ˈkævən /

noun

1. a cave, esp when large and formed by underground water, or a large chamber in a cave

verb

1. to shut in or as if in a cavern

2. to hollow out

cavern

1. A large cave.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavern¹

1325–75; Middle English caverne < Latin caverna, equivalent to cav ( us ) hollow + -erna, as in cisterna cistern

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavern¹

C14: from Old French caverne, from Latin caverna, from cavus hollow; see _cave ¹

Example Sentences

Work to repair the road won't be completed until December at the earliest due to the difficulty of detecting caverns under the ground, though a section of pavement has reopened in recent days.

From BBC

Researchers working with cave explorers uncovered the remnants of an auroch while surveying a number of caverns and sinkholes near Ingleborough.

From BBC

The scientists travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns.

From BBC

Large underground salt caverns are ideal - but the nearest potential sites are in East Yorkshire and Cheshire.

From BBC

"Instead of a big, sheer pristine box of ice, you can see caverns under the edges," Prof Meijers says.

From BBC

Related Words

• cave 
• grotto 
• pothole