spelunk
English
WOTD – 28 December 2011
Alternative forms
- spelunc
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)
- (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)
- To explore caves.
Etymology
U.S., 1940s. Back-formation from spelunker.
Synonyms
- cave
Derived terms
- spelunker
- spelunking
Translations
to explore caves
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