noun B1 Intermediate Common

cave

kayv

Cave (noun) means a natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill. Example: “Bats roosted deep inside the limestone cave.”

noun

A natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill.

"Bats roosted deep inside the limestone cave."

"Prehistoric paintings were found on the cave walls."

Informally, a private room or space someone retreats to (a "man cave").

"He converted the garage into his own cave with a TV and a fridge."

verb

To give in or surrender, especially after resisting.

"After hours of arguing, management finally caved and agreed to the raise."

"She held her ground until she caved to the kids' pleading."

To collapse inward.

"The old mine shaft caved in during the storm."

How to Use Cave

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn underground hollow space, or (as a verb) to give in or collapse.

Common mistake

"Cave in" (collapse or give up) is a phrasal verb — don't drop the "in" when you mean the collapsing sense.

Common pairings

cave in man cave explore a cave cave dweller

Word Forms

caved past tense, caves plural, caves singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “cave” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Bats roosted deep inside the limestone _____.

Etymology

From Old French cave, from Latin cava ("hollow, cavity"), from cavus ("hollow"). It replaced the native Old English word sċræf.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

cavern grotto hollow den cavity hollow space earthhole

Related Words

valley hole empty pit den basin nest dale

Rhymes for cave

ave save have wave nave pave rave fave Dave weave leave slave

See all rhymes for cave →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cave” mean?

The word “cave” means a natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill. In plain terms, an underground hollow space, or (as a verb) to give in or collapse.

How do you pronounce “cave”?

“Cave” is pronounced kayv (/keɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “cave” in a sentence?

Here is “cave” used in a sentence: “Bats roosted deep inside the limestone cave.”

What is another word for “cave”?

Words with a similar meaning to “cave” include earthhole.

What part of speech is “cave”?

Depending on how it is used, “cave” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “cave” come from?

The word “cave” comes from Latin. From Old French cave, from Latin cava ("hollow, cavity"), from cavus ("hollow"). It replaced the native Old English word sċræf.

Is “cave” a common word?

“Cave” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “cave” have?

“Cave” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill.

What is the difference between a cave and a cavern?

A cave is any natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill. A cavern usually refers specifically to a large cave, or a large chamber within one, so every cavern is a cave, but not every cave is big enough to be called a cavern.

What is the difference between a cave and a grotto?

Both are hollow spaces, but a grotto is typically small, picturesque, and often partly landscaped or man-made, sometimes near water. A cave is strictly a natural hollow in the ground or a hillside, with no suggestion of being decorative or artificial.

What are common phrases that use the word cave?

Common collocations include "explore a cave," "cave entrance," and "cave paintings," all drawing on the sense of a natural hollow underground or in a hillside. The informal sense appears in "man cave," meaning a private space someone retreats to.

People Also Searched

valley hole empty pit den basin nest dale