- cavernous
- cavernous mid-15c., "full of caverns," from L. cavernosus, from caverna (see CAVERN (Cf. cavern)). Meaning "hollow" is recorded from 1830.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
cavernous
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Cavernous — Cav ern*ous, a. [L. cavernosus: cf. F. caverneux.] 1. Full of caverns; resembling a cavern or large cavity; hollow. [1913 Webster] 2. Filled with small cavities or cells. [1913 Webster] 3. Having a sound caused by a cavity. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cavernous — [kav′ər nəs] adj. [ME < L cavernosus] 1. full of caverns 2. full of cavities; porous 3. like or characteristic of a cavern; deep set, hollow, etc. [a cavernous voice, cavernous cheeks] cavernously adv … English World dictionary
cavernous — [adj] hollow and large alveolate, broad, chambered, chasmal, commodious, concave, curved inward, deep, deep set, echoing, gaping, huge, resonant, reverberant, roomy, sepulchral, socketed, spacious, sunken, vast, wide, yawning; concepts… … New thesaurus
cavernous — cavernously, adv. /kav euhr neuhs/, adj. 1. being, resembling, or suggestive of a cavern: a vast, cavernous room. 2. deep set: cavernous eyes. 3. hollow and deep sounding: a cavernous voice. 4. containing caverns. 5. full of small cavities;… … Universalium
cavernous — /ˈkævənəs/ (say kavuhnuhs) adjective 1. containing caverns. 2. deep set: cavernous eyes. 3. hollow and deep sounding: *He loved the cavernous indefinite echo of his own voice –nicholas athanasou, 1983. 4. full of small cavities; porous. 5. of a… …
cavernous — cav|ern|ous [ˈkævənəs US ərnəs] adj literary a cavernous room, space, or hole is very large and deep ▪ a cavernous dining hall … Dictionary of contemporary English
cavernous — [[t]kæ̱və(r)nəs[/t]] ADJ GRADED A cavernous room or building is very large inside, and so it reminds you of a cave. Climbing steep stairs to the choir gallery you peer into a cavernous interior … English dictionary
cavernous — adjective a cavernous room, space, or hole is very large and deep: a cavernous dining hall cavernously adverb … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
cavernous — cav•ern•ous [[t]ˈkæv ər nəs[/t]] adj. 1) being or resembling a cavern: a cavernous room[/ex] 2) deep set 3) hollow and deep sounding: a cavernous voice[/ex] 4) containing caverns 5) full of small cavities; porous • Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < L … From formal English to slang
cavernous — adjective Date: 15th century 1. a. having caverns or cavities b. of animal tissue composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part 2. constituting or suggesting a cavern < a … New Collegiate Dictionary
