cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈka-vər-nəs 

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 cavernous warehouse

cavernously adverb

Examples of cavernous in a Sentence

We toured the cavernous airplane hangar.

The dance was held in a cavernous hall.

Recent Examples on the Web

In one example, health officials in the Philippines have set up a testing clinic deep inside a cavernous mall parking garage for people who might shy away from entering an on-the-street HIV facility. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024

As the panelists jockeyed to explain the momentous development in this cavernous studio that was quiet as all hell, the scene had the feel of a strange stage play. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024

At times, the actors spoke their lines from obscure corners of the cavernous playing area. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

The central console has cavernous storage (enough for a laptop). —Jeremy White, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin cavernōsus "having hollows or depressions," from caverna "hollow space, cavern entry 1" + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈkav-ər-nəs 

1

: having caverns or cavities

2

: resembling a cavern in being large and hollow

3

: composed largely of spaces capable of filling with blood to bring about the enlargement of a body part

cavernously adverb

Medical Definition

cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈkav-ər-nəs 

1

: having caverns or cavities

2

of tissue : composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part