to den

Examples

• All

• There is something animal in it; she dens herself up to tend to her wounds, and I let her.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Beina dens er brukket.

  Cimarron (1931)

• During the winter months, the bear will den in a warm cave to keep safe from the cold.

• Foxes often den in burrows that they dig in the ground for safety and shelter.

Synonyms

N

to nest

vsto den

15 1.6

To make a home where birds or animals lay eggs and raise their young

is about taking seasonal shelter rather than for breeding or eggs

H

to hole up

vsto den

1 7.3

An animal taking shelter in a safe place to sleep through winter

is about seasonal shelter without implying dormancy

L

to lair

vsto den

• Archaic

7.5

To stay in a hidden place to rest or hide

is about seasonal shelter rather than hiding specifically

Idioms

B

to beard the lion in his den

• Informal

1 9.9

To confront a powerful person directly in their own place

Compounds

L

lion's den

• Informal

8 6.8

A situation where you face strong anger or danger from others

O

opium den

• NSFW

4 9.9

A place where people buy and smoke a strong illegal drug from the poppy plant

D

den mother

• Jargon

2 6.5

A woman who leads a small group of Cub Scouts and plans their activities

D

den of iniquity

• NSFW

2 9.1

A place where people often secretly do illegal or immoral things

D

den mother

• US

2 6.7

A woman who looks after and supports a group of children or young people

G

gambling den

2 4.4

A secret place where people play games for money, often illegally

How Sheltered

to hibernate

19 4.6

to den

1 4.2

to nest

15 1.6

to find shelter

15 2.9

Surface Forms

Etymology