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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

spelunk en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /spəˈlʌŋk/
  • (US) audio
  • /spiːˈlʌŋk/

Etymology

From Middle English spelunke, from Old French spelonque and/or Latin spelunca, from Ancient Greek σπῆλυγξ (spêlunx, “cave”), related to σπέος (spéos). Cognates include Middle Dutch spelunke, spelonke, German Spelunke.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete) A cave, cavern or grotto.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
spelunks Number=Plur lexicographic
spelunc alternative lexicographic

spelunk en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /spəˈlʌŋk/
  • (US) audio
  • /spiːˈlʌŋk/

Etymology

U.S., 1940s. Back-formation from spelunker.

Meanings

  1. To explore caves.
  2. To explore a system in depth.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
spelunking Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
spelunks Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
spelunked Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
spelunked Tense=Past lexicographic
spelunc alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

spelunking

Synonyms

cave

Translations (5)

ru занима́ться спелеологией (to explore caves) · es hacer espeleología (to explore caves) · hu barlangászik (to explore caves) · ru иссле́довать пещеры (to explore caves) · fi tutkia luolia (to explore caves)