/ ˌspiːliˈɒlədʒɪst; NAmE -ˈɑːlə-/ noun
a scientist who studies caves or a person who goes into caves as a sport
—compare caver , potholer , spelunker
► spele·ology / ˌspiːliˈɒlədʒi; NAmE -ˈɑːlə-/ noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: from French spéléologie , via Latin from Greek spēlaion cave + -ist .