noun
cavern
KAV-uhn
Cavern (noun) means a large cave, especially one with a spacious underground chamber. Example: “Tourists were led through a vast, echoing cavern lit by lanterns.”
noun
1
A large cave, especially one with a spacious underground chamber.
"Tourists were led through a vast, echoing cavern lit by lanterns."
2
Any large, dark, hollow space.
"The abandoned warehouse felt like a cold, empty cavern."
How to use cavern
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big cave or cave-like hollow space, usually underground.
Common mistake
"Cavern" implies something larger and more dramatic than an everyday "cave."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- caverns
- Third person singular
- caverns
- Past tense
- caverned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tourists were led through a vast, echoing _____ lit by lanterns.
Etymology
From Old French caverne, from Latin caverna ("cavity, cave"), from cavus ("hollow").
Rhymes for cavern
See all rhymes for cavern →Frequently asked questions
What does “cavern” mean?
The word “cavern” means a large cave, especially one with a spacious underground chamber. In plain terms, a big cave or cave-like hollow space, usually underground.
How do you pronounce “cavern”?
“Cavern” is pronounced KAV-uhn (/ˈkæv.ɚn/ in IPA).
How do you use “cavern” in a sentence?
Here is “cavern” used in a sentence: “Tourists were led through a vast, echoing cavern lit by lanterns.”
What part of speech is “cavern”?
“Cavern” is a noun.
Where does the word “cavern” come from?
The word “cavern” comes from Latin. From Old French caverne, from Latin caverna ("cavity, cave"), from cavus ("hollow").
How many meanings does “cavern” have?
“Cavern” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large cave, especially one with a spacious underground chamber.
