cellar
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a room below ground level in a house, often used for keeping things cool or for storage.
n.an underground room or storey of a building, typically used for storage of provisions, coal, or wine.
Simple“We keep the old garden tools and the lawnmower in the cellar.”
In context“The old Victorian house featured a damp cellar that required significant renovation before it could be used for anything other than basic storage.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a collection of wine that someone has stored, usually in a cool place.
n.a stock or collection of wine, named after the location where it is traditionally kept.
Simple“The restaurant is famous for its impressive wine cellar.”
In context“He spent decades building a private cellar, focusing primarily on vintage reds from the Bordeaux region.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the very bottom position in a sports league or competition.
n.the lowest position in a league table or ranking; often used in the phrase 'in the cellar'.
Simple“After losing five games in a row, the team is stuck in the league cellar.”
In context“The franchise has languished in the division cellar for three consecutive seasons, leading to calls for a complete management overhaul.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to put wine or food in a cool underground room so it stays good for a long time.
v.to store something, particularly wine, in a cellar for the purpose of aging or preservation.
Simple“This particular red wine needs to be cellared for at least five years.”
In context“Serious collectors often cellar their finest bottles for decades to allow the complex flavours to develop fully.”
UsageThe verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
From Middle English celer, seler, from Anglo-Norman celer, Old French celier (modern cellier), from Late Latin cellārium, from Latin cella. Doublet of cellarium.
From 15th century English saler, from French salière, from Latin salarius (“relating to salt”), from Latin sal (“salt”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.