What does cave mean?
A cave is a natural underground hollow, typically formed in rock over long periods of time and usually accessible through an opening at the surface. Caves vary enormously in size and character, from narrow crawlways to vast chambers decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, and underground rivers; most form in limestone dissolved slowly by acidic groundwater, though ice caves, lava tubes, and sea caves also exist. Beyond geology, the word carries rich cultural resonance: caves served as shelters and burial places for early humans, canvases for some of the world's oldest art, and settings for myth and legend from Plato's allegory of the cave to folklore about bears and hidden treasure. In informal usage, especially in Britain, 'cave' can mean a cosy private retreat, giving rise to the popular phrase 'man cave'. Related forms include 'caver' and 'caving' for those who explore caves as a sport.
A natural underground chamber, typically one with an opening to the surface, large enough for a person to enter.
"The archaeologists discovered ancient tools buried just inside the mouth of the cave."
In British informal usage it can also mean a small room used as a personal retreat, e.g. a 'man cave'.
(of a roof, ceiling, or structure) To collapse inward; more broadly, to yield or give way under pressure.
"The miners were trapped when part of the tunnel caved in overnight."
Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'cave in'. The extended figurative sense, as in 'he eventually caved and agreed to the deal', is very common in informal speech.
(British, public schools, historical) A warning cry meaning 'watch out!'
""Cave!" shouted the boy as the prefect rounded the corner."
Now largely obsolete, remembered mainly from school stories and slang dictionaries.
Regular plural: add -s. Common in geological and archaeological contexts when discussing multiple formations or sites.
"The region's limestone caves attract thousands of spelunkers every year."
The oldest known cave paintings on Earth — at Chauvet and El Castillo — are tens of thousands of years old, making caves humanity's first art galleries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cave
English 'cave' comes via Old French 'cave' from Latin 'cava', the feminine of 'cavus' meaning 'hollow'. The Latin root 'cavus' derives from the Proto-Indo-European root '*keuə-' meaning 'to swell' or 'hollow out'. This same root gives English 'excavate', 'concavity', and 'hollow'-related terms such as 'cavity', making them true etymological relatives of 'cave'. The word entered English in the Middle English period, replacing older native words for hollow places.
Related word forms
How cave is actually used
As a noun, 'cave' is neutral in register and common in both everyday speech and scientific writing about geology. The British informal sense of a small private room ('man cave') is casual and modern. The phrasal verb 'cave in', meaning to collapse or to yield under pressure, is very frequent but belongs to the verb entry.
Easily confused with cave
'Crave' is a verb meaning to desire something strongly, whereas 'cave' is a noun meaning an underground hollow — they differ in both meaning and initial consonant.
A 'cove' is a small sheltered bay or inlet on a coastline, while a 'cave' is a hollow chamber in rock or earth.