noun
den
DEHN
noun
1
A wild animal's shelter, such as a cave or burrow.
"The fox retreated to its den at the first sign of danger."
"Cubs stay in the den with their mother for weeks after birth."
2
A small, cozy room in a home used for relaxing rather than formal entertaining.
"He set up his home office in the den."
"They spent the evening watching movies in the den."
3
A place associated with a disreputable or secretive activity.
"The old bar was known as a den of gamblers."
How to Use Den
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shelter for an animal, or a cozy home room, or (figuratively) a hangout for shady dealings.
Common pairings
lion's den
den of thieves
family den
Word Forms
denned past tense, dens plural, dens singular
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The fox retreated to its _____ at the first sign of danger.
Etymology
From Old English denn, "lair of a beast," related to a Proto-West Germanic word for a threshing floor or pasture.