cave

n. a large, natural hole in the side of a hill, a cliff, or under the ground.

n. a naturally occurring underground chamber or series of chambers, typically formed by the weathering of rock.

“The hikers took shelter in a small cave when the storm began.”

“Archaeologists discovered ancient paintings deep within the limestone cave, preserved for millennia by the stable environment.”

n. a private room or space where someone goes to relax or be alone.

n. a metaphorical or literal place of seclusion or retreat, often used in the compound 'man cave'.

“He turned the basement into a hobby cave where he could build model planes.”

“After a long week at the office, he retreated to his basement cave to listen to records in peace.”

Informal

v. to stop resisting someone's demands or to give up during an argument.

v. to yield or submit to pressure, opposition, or a request; often used with the particle 'in'.

“The manager finally caved and gave the employees a longer lunch break.”

“Under intense scrutiny from the press, the senator eventually caved to public pressure and resigned his position.”

Informal

v. to fall inward or down suddenly.

v. to undergo a structural failure resulting in an inward collapse; usually used with 'in'.

“The old roof caved in after the heavy snowfall.”

“Engineers warned that the tunnel might cave in if the support beams were not reinforced immediately.”