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caver

caver

4 5.8
A person who explores caves for fun, science, or work
  • noun
  • /ˈkeɪvər/
: espeleólogo
  • Cavers climbing the 586-foot Fantastic Pit, in northwest Georgia, can't see or begin to understand the strange behavior of its waterfall.

Examples

  • His wife, Dawn, also a caver, assists him on shoots.

    Academic text (2009)
  • But this caver had been injured in Lechuguilla.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Cavers routinely overlook some amazing features that can be highlighted by simple means.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Cavers need their hands free for climbing, crawling, and passing packs, so they rely on a helmet-mounted light.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Not surprisingly, there had been a contingent of experienced cavers at Carlsbad at the time, a small but dedicated group given to squeezing themselves into dark holes and living to write home about it.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • As a dedicated caver, she spends her weekends exploring remote underground passages.

  • A group of experienced cavers discovered a hidden chamber deep inside the cave system.

  • Tony, an avid caver, is excited to join the expedition to explore the ancient cave.

Synonyms

spelunker
vscaver
  • US
2 9.1

A person who explores caves for fun

includes hobby explorers but also scientific or professional ones
speleologist
vscaver
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A person who studies or explores caves

covers explorers who are professional, scientific, or recreational
potholer
vscaver
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A person who explores caves for fun

is the identical term used for the same role

How Experienced

speleologist
  • Specialized
1 9.9
caver
4 5.8
spelunker
  • US
2 9.1
tourist
540 1.0

Surface Forms

caver singular
cavers plural

Morphology

caver = cave (transparent) = cave + er

This is a regular agentive formation: a caver is a person associated with caves, so the meaning is readily recoverable from cave + -er.

Etymology

Caver comes from cave + -er, so it simply means a person who goes into a cave. The older root cavus means 'hollow' and is in words like cavity and cavern, so a caver is someone who explores hollow places underground.