Dictionary

cavernous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkav.ən.əs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkæv.ɚ.nəs/ (General-American)

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.

Meanings

1. Resembling a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere.
   • The last stop on the West Coast Main Line before you cross the border into Scotland, the strategically placed Carlisle Citadel is a station steeped in history. Opened on September 1 1847, the cavernous station was once home to seven railway companies in the pre-Grouping years. 2019 November 20, Paul Stephen, “Lakes and lines offer scenery to savour”, in Rail, page 54:
   • At 8:34 p.m. Saturday night, in the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton, I heard a loud crashing noise, like a big tray of dinner plates hitting the floor. 2026 April 26, Linda Feldmann, “After the gunfire: Moments of grace at White House correspondents’ dinner”, in The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Massachusetts: Christian Science Publishing Society, →ISSN, →OCLC:
2. Resembling a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere. ▸ Giving the impression of vast, dark depths.
   • cavernous eyes
   • While the filmmakers behind Dear Evan Hansen have maintained that their biggest motivation for adapting the popular Broadway musical was to immortalize Platt’s Tony-winning titular performance, what they’ve actually done by having the 27-year-old play a high school senior is highlight the stage show’s cavernous weaknesses while failing to transport just about any of its strengths to the new medium. 2021 September 22, Caroline Siede, “Dear Evan Hansen is a misfire on just about every level”, in AV Club:
3. Having many caverns. ▸ Composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part.
4. Having many caverns. ▸ Having cavities.

Forms

Deriveds

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

Synonyms

cavelike · cavelike

Translations (9)

es cavernoso (resembling a cavern) · fr caverneux (having many caverns) · pl jamisty (having many caverns) · el σπηλαιώδης (having many caverns) · mi areare (resembling a cavern) · pt cavernoso (resembling a cavern) · pl jamisty (resembling a cavern) · pt cavernoso (having many caverns) · enm cavernous (having many caverns)