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cavern

 - 5 dictionary results

cav⋅ern

  [kav-ern]
Use cavern in a Sentence
–noun
1. a cave, esp. one that is large and mostly underground.
2. Pathology. a cavity that is produced by disease, esp. one produced in the lungs by tuberculosis.
–verb (used with object)
3. to enclose in or as if in a cavern.
4. to hollow out to form a cavern.
Origin:
1325–75; ME caverne < L caverna, equiv. to cav(us) hollow + -erna, as in cisterna cistern
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To cavern
cav·ern   (kāv'ərn)   
n.  

  1. A large cave.

  2. A large underground chamber, as in a cave.

tr.v.   cav·erned, cav·ern·ing, cav·erns

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

  2. To hollow out.


[Middle English caverne, from Old French, from Latin caverna, from cavus, hollow; see keuə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

cavern 
c.1374, from O.Fr. caverne, from L.L. caverna "cave," from L. cavus (see cave).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: cav·ern
Pronunciation: 'kav-&rn
Function: noun
: a cavity (as in the lung) caused by disease
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Science Dictionary
cavern   (kāv'ərn)  Pronunciation Key 
A large cave.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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