cage
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a box or space made of wire or metal bars used to keep animals or birds inside.
n.an enclosure consisting of spaced bars or wire mesh, designed to confine animals while allowing for visibility and ventilation.
Simple“The parrot spent most of the day inside its cage by the window.”
In context“Conservationists argue that the zoo's primate cage is far too small to provide an adequate environment for such intelligent creatures.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a place or situation that makes you feel trapped or stops you from being free.
n.a figurative state of confinement or restriction that inhibits personal or creative agency.
Simple“He felt that his high-paying office job had become a golden cage.”
In context“The artist described her strict upbringing as a cage that prevented her from exploring her true potential for years.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the part of an elevator or lift that people stand in.
n.the enclosed passenger or freight compartment of a lift or hoist mechanism.
Simple“The miners stepped into the iron cage to be lowered into the shaft.”
In context“Safety regulations require the lift cage to be inspected monthly for structural integrity and cable wear.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the goal area in sports like ice hockey or lacrosse.
n.the goal structure in specific field or ice sports, typically consisting of a frame and netting.
Simple“The puck flew past the goalie and straight into the back of the cage.”
In context“The striker managed to find a gap in the defense and fired the ball into the cage to secure the win.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to put an animal or a person in a cage or to keep them trapped.
v.to confine within a cage or to restrict movement and liberty as if by a physical barrier.
Simple“It is cruel to cage wild animals that are used to roaming free.”
In context“The regime attempted to cage the opposition by restricting their access to public media and freezing their bank accounts.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
v.to record and organize information from people who reply to advertisements or political mail.
v.to process and track individual responses to direct mail for the purpose of database management or voter verification.
Simple“The campaign team had to cage the thousands of letters they received each week.”
In context“The legality of caging lists has been a subject of intense debate in recent election cycles regarding voter suppression concerns.”