spelunk

English
WOTD – 28 December 2011

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English spelunke, from Latin spelunca, from Ancient Greek σπῆλυγξ (spêlunx, “cave, cavern, grotto”). Cognates include German Spelunke.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /spɨˈlʌŋk/, /spiːˈlʌŋk/
  • Audio (US)(file)
    Rhymes: -ʌŋk

Noun

spelunk (plural spelunks)

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

Translations
cave, cavern, grotto — see cave

Verb

spelunk (third-person singular simple present spelunks, present participle spelunking, simple past and past participle spelunked)

  1. To explore caves.


Etymology

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

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations
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