CAVE, noun A hollow place in the earth; a subterraneous cavern; a den. This may be natural or artificial. The primitive inhabitants of the earth, in many countries, lived in caves; and the present inhabitants of some parts of the earth, especially in the high northern latitudes, occupy caves, particularly in winter. Lot dwelt in a cave he and his daughters. Genesis 19:30. CAVEs were also used for the burial of the dead. Abraham buried Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelab. Genesis 23:9. Bacon applies the word to the ear, the cave of the ear; but this application is unusual. CAVE, verb transitive To make hollow. CAVE, verb intransitive To dwell in a cave To cave in, to fall in and leave a hollow, as earth on the side of a well or pit. When in digging into the earth, the side is excavated by a falling of a quantity of earth, it is said to cave in.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI