cave
1 of 3noun
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 Leslie Guttmancave
2 of 3verb (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 3verb (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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Kentucky's Mammoth Cave is actually a series of large chambers on five levels.
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
Kids Definition
cave 1 of 2
noun
ˈkāv
: a large hollow place formed by natural processes in the side of a hill or cliff or underground
cave
2 of 2verb
caved; caving
: to fall or cause to fall in or down : collapse
The mine caved in.
caved
verb
as in capitulated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- capitulated
- submitted
- beset
- besieged
- bombarded
- assailed
- yielded
- stormed
- attacked
- overran
- assaulted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- defended
- kept
- covered
- protected
- secured
- shielded
- guarded
- prevented
- warded
- screened
- resisted
- fended
- fenced
- safeguarded
- opposed
- averted
- bulwarked
- withstood
- forfended