speleology
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌspilɪˈɑlədʒi/
- Specialized
:
espeleología
- I love speleology.
Examples
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Courses in speleology cover both the geological and biological aspects of caves.
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My interest in speleology began after I visited a limestone cave on a school trip.
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Sarah joined a speleology club to learn more about subterranean environments.
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What is speleology?
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The study of caves, known as speleology, requires an understanding of geology and ecosystems.
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Many universities offer courses in speleology to educate students about cave exploration.
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Her fascination with speleology led her to explore some of the deepest caves in the country.
How Scientific
Surface Forms
Morphology
speleology = speleo + logy
Although the word is built from a cave-related combining form plus '-logy', the base element 'speleo' is not a familiar standalone English word, so most learners cannot infer the meaning from the parts.
Etymology
Speleology comes from the part spele- meaning 'cave' and the ending -logy meaning 'study', the same -logy you see in biology and geology. So speleology is literally the 'study of caves', which is why it means the scientific study and exploration of caves.