caveI. \ˈkāv\
noun(
-s)
Usage: often attributiveEtymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin
cava, from
cavus hollow; akin to Old English
hyse young man, Old Norse
hūnn bear cub, Greek
koilos hollow,
kyein to be pregnant, Sanskrit
śvayati he swells,
śāva young of an animal; basic meaning: hollow, swelling
1. : a hollowed-out chamber in the earth or in the side of a cliff or hill
: cavern
;
especially : a natural underground chamber (as one produced in limestone by running water) with an opening to the surface
2. a. : an underground chamber or recess for storage or safety;
especially : an outdoor cellar dug or natural
< if she had bacon in the cave — Willa Cather > b. : a cached supply
< selling the caves of wine >3. Britain a. : the act of secession from a political party
b. : a group of persons seceding from a political party — compare
adullamite
4. : a tunnel under a glass furnace used for raking the fire, removing ashes, or regulating heat
5. : a heavily shielded enclosure for radioactive experiments controlled and observed from outside
II. verb(
-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: probably from Middle French
caver, from Latin
cavaretransitive verb: to form a cave in or under
: hollow
,
undermine
< the waters caving the banks >intransitive verb: to explore caves
III. transitive verb(
-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English (northern dialect)
caven, from
caf chaff (in other dialects
chaf, chef) — more at
chaff
now dialect : to separate (as grain) from chaff
IV. verb(
-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: perhaps from Old Norse
kafa to dive — more at baptize
intransitive verb1. dialect Britain : overturn
2. Midland : to be noisily and demonstratively angry
transitive verb1. dialect Britain : to tilt over
2. dialect Britain : to give a toss to (the head)
3. dialect Britain : plunge
V. verb(
-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: probably alteration (influenced by
cave) (II) of
calveintransitive verb1. : to fall in or down especially from being undermined — usually used with
in < the road caved in above the old mine >2. : to collapse especially from exhaustion — usually used with
in < the challenger caved in during the seventh round >3. : to cease to resist
: become forceless or disorganized
: admit defeat or culpability
: submit
— usually used with
in < the defenders caved in and surrendered >transitive verb1. : to cause to fall or collapse — usually used with
in < the floodwaters caved in the retaining wall >2. : to smash in or down — usually used with
in < a car with its fenders caved in >VI. noun(
-s)
Etymology: cave (II)
: the action of caving in or being caved in
VII. adjectiveEtymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin
cavus hollow
obsolete : concave
,
hollow