I. ˈkāv noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: 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 cavare
transitive 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 verb
1. dialect Britain : overturn
2. Midland : to be noisily and demonstratively angry
transitive verb
1. 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 calve
intransitive verb
1. : 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 verb
1. : 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. adjective
Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin cavus hollow
obsolete : concave , hollow