spelunk

• spelunc

From Middle English spelunke, from Latin spelunca, from Ancient Greek σπῆλυγξ (spêlunx, “cave, cavern, grotto”). Cognates include German Spelunke.

• IPA^(key): /spɨˈlʌŋk/, /spiːˈlʌŋk/

• Audio (US)

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  Rhymes: -ʌŋk

spelunk (plural spelunks)

1. (obsolete) A cave, cavern or grotto.

spelunk (third-person singular simple present spelunks, present participle spelunking, simple past and past participle spelunked)

1. To explore caves.

U.S., 1940s. Back-formation from spelunker.

• cave

• spelunker
• spelunking