cave
Hollow in rock
The hollow in the earth that we call a cave gives rise to the word’s other meanings.
Cave-like things that people create include the man cave, which borrows from the idea of a place of retreat.
Verb meanings of cave include cave exploration (let’s go cave), or to collapse downward and inward: The mine caved, trapping the workers.
If you cave or cave in to something, you give up resistance or opposition in a way that is not admired: She caved in to her ex-husband’s demands.
Hanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- karstEroded soluble rock terrain
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
flowstone · dripstone · column · soda straw · sinter · grotto · crystal · mineral
Large natural underground chamber
sinkhole · crevice · gorge · fissure · opening · mouth · entrance · chamber
Exploring caves recreationally
- speleologyScientific study of caves
- potholingExploring underground cavities recreationally
- headlampForward-facing vehicle light
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
carabiner · descender · rappelling · passage · chamber · squeeze · crawlway · mapping
Place of safety
- denPrivate room or lair
- lairAnimal's hidden dwelling
- hideoutSecret place of refuge
- dwellingPlace of residence
burrow · sanctuary · haven · retreat · home · protection · habitation · dugout
Complete absence of light
- shadowLight blocked by object
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- dimLow in light
- murkyDark and unclear
pitch-black · lightless · void · abyss · obscurity · depths · inky · torchlight
Very old indeed
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- hiddenKept out of sight
- secretConcealed information
- legendUnverified traditional tale
myth · treasure · artifact · painting · petroglyph · burial · ritual · oracle
Flying mammal or sports club
- troglodyteCave-dwelling person
- guanoAccumulated bird droppings
- salamanderTailed, moist-skinned amphibian
- hibernaculumDormant animal's seasonal shelter
roost · colony · echolocation · nocturnal · ecosystem · adaptation · eyeless · albino
stalactite
Hanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- karstEroded soluble rock terrain
calcite · flowstone · dripstone · column · soda straw · sinter · grotto · crystal · mineral · bedrock
cavern
Large natural underground chamber
pit · sinkhole · crevice · gorge · fissure · opening · mouth · entrance · chamber · gallery
spelunking
Exploring caves recreationally
- speleologyScientific study of caves
- potholingExploring underground cavities recreationally
- headlampForward-facing vehicle light
harness · carabiner · descender · rappelling · passage · chamber · squeeze · crawlway · mapping · expedition
refuge
Place of safety
dwelling · burrow · sanctuary · haven · retreat · home · protection · habitation · dugout · bunker
blackness
Complete absence of light
murky · pitch-black · lightless · void · abyss · obscurity · depths · inky · torchlight · lantern
ancient
Very old indeed
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- hiddenKept out of sight
- secretConcealed information
legend · myth · treasure · artifact · painting · petroglyph · burial · ritual · oracle · Plato
bat
Flying mammal or sports club
- troglodyteCave-dwelling person
- guanoAccumulated bird droppings
- salamanderTailed, moist-skinned amphibian
hibernaculum · roost · colony · echolocation · nocturnal · ecosystem · adaptation · eyeless · albino · invertebrate
- Earthearth, Earth, globe, continent, axis
- explorationexploration, explore, expedition, expeditions, voyage
- naturesun, moon, sky, trees, water
- placescity, town, village, hamlet, building
- attractionszoo, museum, theme park, amusement park, water park
- natural landscapesforest, ocean, desert, mountain, jungle
caveopen plain
Broad, unobstructed flat terrain
open field · clearing · open air · outdoors · prairie
- cave inCollapse or yield
- caved inCollapsed or capitulated
- cave paintingPrehistoric art on stone
- caving inCollapsing or surrendering
- man cavePrivate male hangout space
- cave diversUnderwater cavern explorers
cavity, caveat, excavate, caves, concave, excavation, caved, excavator, caving