cavern

1 of 2

noun

cav·​ern ˈka-vərn How to pronounce cavern (audio)
 also  -vrən
: cave
especially : one of large or indefinite extent

cavern

2 of 2

verb

caverned; caverning; caverns

transitive verb

1
: to place in or as if in a cavern
2
: to form a cavern of : hollow
used with out

Examples of cavern in a Sentence

Noun a cavern with beautiful stalactites
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And yet, within the healthcare industry, with its cavern of complexities, these kinds of tactics seem to get a pass. Seth Joseph, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The most technically demanding builds will be the collider’s caverns, where the tunnel blows out into larger spaces that hold particle detectors. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Feb. 2024 Unveiling this underworld opens a cavern of secrets necessary to understanding Detroit's history. Detroit Free Press, 10 Feb. 2024 Mars appears to have similar caverns available too. WIRED, 8 Nov. 2023 The cavern spreads out under town, determining where houses can and cannot be built. Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 The 20-year-old's body was found in a bathroom surrounded by alcohol and weapons in a building that holds a ride with a 110-foot drop into caverns, investigators said. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2024 In fact, some in the king’s fleet, including the king himself, are thought to be still trapped in a cavern on those lands. Jack Butler, National Review, 31 Dec. 2023 This park includes over 15 trails that allow visitors to explore tunnels, caverns, springs and other natural areas. Cora Hall, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
Verb
In the hunt, scientists have erected detectors in a South Dakota cavern a mile underground, at the bottom of Lake Baikal in Siberia, under a mountain in Japan, and on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea. Robert Lee Hotz, WSJ, 12 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cavern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English caverne, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin caverna "hollow space, crevice, tree hole, cave," from cavus "hollow, sunken" + -erna, noun-forming suffix of uncertain origin — more at hole entry 1

Verb

derivative of cavern entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cavern was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cavern

Cite this Entry

“Cavern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavern. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cavern

noun
cav·​ern
ˈkav-ərn
: a cave often of large or unknown size

Medical Definition

cavern

noun
cav·​ern ˈkav-ərn How to pronounce cavern (audio)
: a cavity (as in the lung) caused by disease

More from Merriam-Webster on cavern

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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