spelunking

S1P3E1L1U1N1K5I1N1G2

noun

The practice or hobby of exploring underground caverns.

Similar
caving
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounspelunking (usually uncountable, plural spelunkings)

plural spelunkings

  1. uncountableusuallyThe practice or hobby of exploring underground caverns.

    In the great myths, the adventures are external, even when they involve such metaphorical spelunkings as the voyage into the underworld.

    2001, Nancy Hathaway, The Friendly Guide to Mythology, page 277

    Synonyms: caving

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of spelunk

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe practice or hobby of exploring underground caverns.

Similar
caving
Also see
cave diving

Origin

From spelunk + -ing. Back-formation from spelunker. Attested since 1946.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch speleologie
  • speleologieexploring underground caverns
Finnish luolatutkimus, speleologia
  • luolatutkimusexploring underground caverns
  • speleologiaexploring underground caverns
French spéléologie
  • spéléologieexploring underground caverns
German Höhlenwandern
  • Höhlenwandernexploring underground caverns
Irish uaimheadóireacht
  • uaimheadóireachtexploring underground caverns
Korean 케이빙
  • 케이빙 (keibing)exploring underground caverns
Polish alpinizm jaskiniowy, alpinizm podziemny
  • alpinizm jaskiniowyexploring underground caverns
  • alpinizm podziemnyexploring underground caverns
Romanian speologie
  • speologieexploring underground caverns
Russian спелеоло́гия
  • спелеоло́гия (speleológija)exploring underground caverns
Spanish espeleísmo, espeleoturismo
  • espeleísmoexploring underground caverns
  • espeleoturismoexploring underground caverns
Vietnamese sự thích khảo sát hang động
  • sự thích khảo sát hang độngexploring underground caverns
Welsh ogofa
  • ogofaexploring underground caverns
Cite this entry
APA

spelunking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spelunking

MLA

“spelunking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spelunking. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spelunking,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spelunking.

Source: spelunking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.