English Explanatory Dictionary

cavernous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Resembling a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere.
  2. Giving the impression of vast, dark depths.
  3. Having many caverns.
  4. Composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part.
  5. Having cavities.

Pronunciation

/ˈkav.ən.əs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-cavernous.wav /ˈkæv.ɚ.nəs/

Word forms

cavernous more cavernous most cavernous

Etymology

Late Middle English cavernous, cavernose, borrowing from Old French caverneux or Latin cavernōsus (“full of hollows or cavities”), from caverna (“a hollow, cavity, cave”) + -ōsus (“-ous, -ose”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to cavern + -ous.

Synonyms

cavelike

Derived words

bronchocavernous cavernoma cavernous body cavernously cavernous nerve cavernous sinus extracavernous intercavernous intracavernous noncavernous paracavernous pericavernous

Translations

Māori: areare Polish: jamisty Portuguese: cavernoso Spanish: cavernoso French: caverneux Greek: σπηλαιώδης Middle English: cavernous
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