den
1 Americannoun
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the lair or shelter of a wild animal, especially a predatory mammal.
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a room, often secluded, in a house or apartment, designed to provide a quiet, comfortable, and informal atmosphere for conversation, reading, writing, etc.
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a cave used as a place of shelter or concealment.
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a squalid or vile abode or place.
dens of misery.
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one of the units of a cub scout pack, analogous to a patrol in the Boy Scouts.
verb (used with object)
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to drive or pursue (an animal) into its den.
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to kill (an animal) inside its den.
verb (used without object)
abbreviation
noun
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the habitat or retreat of a lion or similar wild animal; lair
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a small or secluded room in a home, often used for carrying on a hobby
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a squalid or wretched room or retreat
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a site or haunt
a den of vice
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a small wooded valley; dingle
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dialect a place of sanctuary in certain catching games; home or base
verb
abbreviation
Etymology
Origin of den
before 1000; Middle English; Old English denn; compare early Dutch denne floor, cave, den, German Tenne floor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But a well-known black bear in the area, known as Rose, had other plans for the home, having already settled into her new den in the home’s crawl space.
From Los Angeles Times
As usual, Magic had already disappeared into one of the many holes leading to her den.
From Literature
Like the den, the walls of the guest house are painted a warm green hue for a relaxing feel.
From Los Angeles Times
"We remain prudent in our near-term expectations for beer market conditions," chief executive Dolf van den Brink said in a statement.
From Barron's
“We remain prudent in our near-term expectations for beer market conditions,” said Dolf van den Brink, who is set to step down from his role at the end of May.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
