I. ˈkavə(r)n noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English caverne, from Middle French, from Latin caverna, from cavus hollow — more at cave
1. : an underground chamber often large or indefinite in extent : cave
caverns attracting tourist trade
Carlsbad Caverns
2. : a large dark recess
his eye sockets were dark caverns — Kenneth Roberts
the caverns of his memory — Earl Birney
3. : a cavity (as in the lung) caused by disease
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to place or enclose in or as if in a cavern
2. : to form a cavern of : hollow out — used with out