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cave1

Syllabification: (cave)

Pronunciation: /kāv/

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Definition of cave

noun

a large underground chamber, typically of natural origin, in a hillside or cliff.

verb

[no object]

1explore caves as a sport.

2short for cave in below.

Phrasal Verbs

cave in (or cave something in): (with reference to a roof or similar structure) subside or collapse or cause something to do this:the tunnel walls caved in storms caved the roof in; yield or submit under pressure:the manager caved in to his demands

Derivatives

cavelike
caver

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French, from Latin cava, from cavus 'hollow' (compare with cavern). The usage cave in may be from the synonymous dialect expression calve in, influenced by obsolete cave 'excavate, hollow out'

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Definition of cave in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

cave1

noun

verb

Phrasal Verbs

cave in (or cave something in)

Derivatives

cavelike

caver

Origin:

cave in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for cave

More words in this category

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