Spelunk: meaning, definitions and examples
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spelunk
[ spəˈlʌŋk ]
exploring caves
To spelunk means to explore caves, especially as a hobby or for scientific study. It involves navigating through underground passages, examining formations, and often requires specialized equipment and knowledge about cave systems.
Synonyms
cave diving, cave exploration, caving.
Examples of usage
- They spent the weekend spelunking in the Appalachian caves.
- He enjoys spelunking during the summer months, seeking out new cave systems.
- The spelunkers carefully mapped the cave they discovered.
- She learned about cave ecosystems while spelunking.
- Spelunking can be both thrilling and dangerous without proper precautions.
Translations
Translations of the word "spelunk" in other languages:
🇵🇹 espeleologia
🇮🇳 गुफा विज्ञान
🇩🇪 Höhlenforschung
🇮🇩 spelaeologi
🇺🇦 спелеологія
🇵🇱 speleologia
🇯🇵 洞窟探検
🇫🇷 spéléologie
🇪🇸 espeleología
🇹🇷 mağara bilimi
🇰🇷 동굴 탐험
🇸🇦 علم الكهوف
🇨🇿 jeskynářství
🇸🇰 jeskyňarstvo
🇨🇳 洞穴学
🇸🇮 speleologija
🇮🇸 hella- og hellaskynjunarfræði
🇰🇿 үңгіртану
🇬🇪 ღვაწლური
🇦🇿 daxili tədqiqat
🇲🇽 espeleología
Etymology
The word 'spelunk' originates from the 1930s, derived from the Latin word 'spelunca', meaning 'cave'. It is a blend of earlier terms such as 'caver' and 'speleology', which is the scientific study of caves and their environments. The growing interest in exploring caves led to the popularization of the term 'spelunking', especially in North America, where hobbyists began documenting their adventures and findings in various cave systems. The rising popularity of this activity also resulted in increased awareness about cave conservation and the ecosystems within these unique environments.