cavity
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a hollow space or empty area inside a solid object.
a hollow space or void within a solid object or structure.
Simple“The explorers found a small cavity in the rock wall where they could hide from the rain.”
In context“Engineers discovered a structural cavity within the concrete foundation that required immediate reinforcement to prevent further settling.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a hole in a tooth caused by decay.
a lesion or hole in a tooth resulting from dental caries.
Simple“The dentist told me I had a small cavity because I ate too many sweets.”
In context“Regular dental check-ups are essential for detecting a cavity before the decay reaches the sensitive nerve of the tooth.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'fill' or 'drill'.
Synonymsdecaycaries - 03 C1 Advanced
a space inside the body that holds organs.
a fluid-filled or air-filled space in an animal body that houses internal organs.
Simple“The lungs are located inside the chest cavity.”
In context“The surgeon carefully examined the abdominal cavity for any signs of internal bleeding following the accident.”
UsageCommonly modified by anatomical adjectives like 'abdominal', 'thoracic', or 'nasal'.
Teacher's tipThis is a technical term used by doctors and scientists; in everyday conversation, people usually just name the body part.
From Middle French cavité or Late Latin cavitās, from cav(i) (“hollow, excavated, concave”) + -tās (“-ity”, nominal suffix). First attested in the Mid-16th c.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.