Cavern
a cave, especially one that is large and mostly underground.
Pathology. a cavity that is produced by disease, especially one produced in the lungs by tuberculosis.
to enclose in or as if in a cavern.
to hollow out to form a cavern.
Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples
noun
a cave, esp when large and formed by underground water, or a large chamber in a cave
verb (transitive)
to shut in or as if in a cavern
to hollow out
n.
late 14c., from Old French caverne (12c.) “cave, vault, cellar,” from Late Latin caverna “cave,” from Latin cavus “hollow” (see cave (n.)). In Old English such a land feature might be called an eorðscræf.
cavern
(kāv’ərn)
A large cave.
Read Also:
- Caverna
caverna ca·ver·na (kə-vûr’nə, kā-) n. pl. ca·ver·nae (-nē’) An anatomical cavity or hollow space.
- Cavernicolous
living in caverns or caves, as certain animals. Historical Examples
- Caverniloquy
caverniloquy cav·er·nil·o·quy (kāv’ər-nĭl’ə-kwē) n. A low-pitched, resonant pectoriloquy detected over a lung cavity.
- Cavernitis
cavernitis cav·er·ni·tis (kāv’ər-nī’tĭs) n. Inflammation of the cavernous body of the penis.
- Cavernostomy
cavernostomy cav·er·nos·to·my (kāv’ər-nŏs’tə-mē) n. Surgical opening and drainage of a cavity.