Cage
/keɪdʒ/
nounBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
2 meanings2 questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
A structure, typically made of bars or wire, for keeping birds or animals confined.
/keɪdʒ/
nounneutralBeginner
General
A structure for confining animals or birds.
The parrot was kept in a large cage.
💡 Simply: A place to keep animals.
More Examples
2
The zookeeper carefully cleaned the cages.
How It's Used
Zoology
"The lion paced restlessly in its cage."
Avian
"The birds sang merrily in their cages."
2
To enclose or confine, often metaphorically.
/keɪdʒ/
verbnegativeIntermediate
General
To confine in or as if in a cage.
The singer was caged by the demands of fame.
💡 Simply: To keep something trapped.
More Examples
2
The bird was caged in a small box.
How It's Used
Figurative
"He felt caged by his responsibilities."
Tip:Think of being trapped like a bird in a cage.
From Old North French *cage, from Latin *cavea "a hollow place, den, coop," ultimately from *cavus "hollow"
The word's use has remained relatively consistent throughout history, referring primarily to animal confinement.
Memory tip
Imagine a bird safely enclosed in its cage.
Word Origin
LanguageLatin
Original meaning
"hollow place"
bird cagecage matchescape from a cage
Common misspellings
caigecaag
Practice
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written