cellar
SEH-luh
Cellar (noun) means an underground room, often used for storage. Example: “They kept jars of preserves in the cellar.”
noun
1
An underground room, often used for storage.
"They kept jars of preserves in the cellar."
"The old house had a damp, cobwebbed cellar."
"He went down to the cellar to fetch another bag of coal."
2
A collection of wine, especially one stored in a cellar.
"The restaurant is known for its impressive wine cellar."
"My uncle spent years building up a fine cellar of red wines."
"The hotel owner proudly showed us his cellar after dinner."
How to use cellar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn underground storage room — or, informally, a stock of wine.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
wine cellar
root cellar
cellar door
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Word forms
- Plural
- cellars
- Third person singular
- cellars
- Past tense
- cellared
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They kept jars of preserves in the _____.
Etymology
From Old French celier, from Latin cellarium, "storeroom," itself from cella.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cellar
See all rhymes for cellar →Frequently asked questions
What does “cellar” mean?
The word “cellar” means an underground room, often used for storage. In plain terms, an underground storage room — or, informally, a stock of wine.
How do you pronounce “cellar”?
“Cellar” is pronounced SEH-luh (/ˈsɛləɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cellar” in a sentence?
Here is “cellar” used in a sentence: “They kept jars of preserves in the cellar.”
What part of speech is “cellar”?
“Cellar” is a noun.
Where does the word “cellar” come from?
The word “cellar” comes from Latin. From Old French celier, from Latin cellarium, "storeroom," itself from cella.
Is “cellar” a common word?
“Cellar” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “cellar” have?
“Cellar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an underground room, often used for storage.
What is the difference between a cellar and a basement?
A cellar is typically a smaller underground space used mainly for storage, such as keeping wine, food, or coal, while a basement is a fuller underground level of a house that can be finished and used as living space. In everyday British usage, cellar often implies a cooler, more utilitarian storage room.
Can cellar refer to something other than a room?
Yes. Cellar can also mean a collection of wine, especially one stored in a cellar, as in 'he has an impressive cellar.' In this sense the word describes the wine itself rather than the physical space.
What is a cellar typically used to store?
A cellar is commonly used to store wine, food, or other goods that benefit from a cool, dark, underground environment. Wine cellars in particular are built or maintained specifically to keep bottles at a stable temperature.
