spelunk
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
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.
Noun edit
spelunk (plural spelunks)
Translations edit
cave, cavern, grotto — see cave
Etymology 2 edit
U.S., 1940s. Back-formation from spelunker.
Verb edit
spelunk (third-person singular simple present spelunks, present participle spelunking, simple past and past participle spelunked)
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
to explore caves
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