cavernous
UK /ˈkav.ən.əs/ · US /ˈkæv.ɚ.nəs/ adjective
- adjective Resembling a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere.
- adjective Giving the impression of vast, dark depths. “cavernous eyes”
- adjective (anatomy, zootomy) Composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part.
- adjective (dentistry) Having cavities.
Synonyms
Etymology
Late Middle English cavernous, cavernose, borrowing from Old French caverneux or Latin cavernōsus (“full of hollows or cavities”), from caverna (“a hollow, cavity, cave”) + -ōsus (“-ous, -ose”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to cavern + -ous.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Full of caverns; resembling a cavern or large cavity; hollow.
- adjective Filled with small cavities or cells.
Etymology [L. cavernosus: cf. F. caverneux.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “cavernous”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details