den

noun

1. A small cavern or hollow place in the side of a hill, or among rocks; especially, a cave used by a wild animal for shelter or concealment.

   “a den of robbers”

   “Daniel was put into the lions’ den.”

2. A squalid or wretched place; a haunt.

   “a den of vice”

   “an opium den; a gambling den”

   “Lying in a den in Bombay With a slack jaw and not much to say”

3. A comfortable room not used for formal entertaining.

   “Near-synonyms: family room, sunroom, Florida room, Arizona room, rec room, playroom”

4. Synonym of fort (“structure improvised from furniture, etc. for playing games.”).

   “Our little girls love using bedsheets and other stuff around the house to make dens in the living room and pretending they're on adventures.”

5. (Scotland, UK, obsolete)A narrow glen; a ravine; a dell.

   “I have made several visits of late to the Den of Rubislaw”

6. A group of Cub Scouts of the same age who work on projects together.
7. (abbreviation, alt-of)Abbreviation of denier (a unit of weight).
8. (Northumbria, alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of dene.

verb

1. (reflexive)To ensconce or hide oneself in (or as in) a den.
2. (intransitive)Of an animal, to use as a den; to take up residence in.

   “Although present in virtually all habitats, it preferred to den in caves, so its distribution, especially in cold, northern areas, may have been limited to limestone and other rocky regions where caves form.”

   ““Denning” – behaviour around making dens – has changed and bears are swimming long distances, but, says Aars, there is still enough sea ice in the spring for the bears to hunt successfully.”

adv

1. (alt-of, not-comparable, pronunciation-spelling)Pronunciation spelling of then, representing AAVE, Bermuda English.

name

1. A diminutive of the male given name Dennis.
2. (abbreviation, alt-of)Abbreviation of Denver.