spelunker
noun
spe·lunk·er
| \ spi-ˈləŋ-kər
, ˈspē-ˌləŋ-\
, ˈspē-ˌləŋ-\
Definition of spelunker
: one who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves
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Examples of spelunker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One other bit of Apple news: ace software spelunker Steve Troughton-Smith found code in iOS 13 referencing a headset for running augmented reality apps. — Adam Lashinsky, Fortune, "Apple Making the World Safe for ‘Slofies’—Data Sheet," 11 Sep. 2019 This historic national landmark offers day and overnight tours for spelunkers (both novice and experienced) to explore the cave’s 32 miles of stalagmites, stalactites, and other unique features. — National Geographic, "Take an epic road trip to Tennessee’s coolest caverns," 16 Aug. 2019 British spelunkers started surveying the region in 1990 and discovered the largest known cave passage in the world, Son Doong, in 2009. — Patrick Scott, WSJ, "A Blow-Your-Mind Adventure in Vietnam’s Caves," 13 Nov. 2018 From the entrance, a path leads about two miles into the cave complex before splitting into two directions, said Vernon Unsworth, a British spelunker who lives in Chiang Rai and has been exploring Tham Luang for more than six years. — New York Times, "As Search for Thai Boys Lost in Cave Hits Day 5, a Nation Holds Its Breath," 27 June 2018 Vernon Unsworth, a British insurance consultant and hobbyist spelunker, has made a obsession of the Tham Luang cave system. — Shibani Mahtani, Washington Post, "‘Time is running out’: Inside the treacherous rescue of boys trapped in a Thai cave," 13 July 2018 They were joined by scores of spelunkers who flocked to Mae Sai within days of the news that the soccer team was trapped by floods. — Phred Dvorak, WSJ, "All 12 Boys and Their Soccer Coach Rescued From Thai Cave," 10 July 2018 The appeal of discovering new, hidden worlds is a big part of why spelunkers are drawn to cave exploring. — Jake Maxwell Watts, WSJ, "What Lies Beneath? Vague Mapping Complicates Thai Cave Rescue," 8 July 2018 Here are a few tales of cave rescues that worked: A cry for help, in a box In 1983, eight amateur spelunkers were trapped in a Kentucky cave after a rainstorm caused a stream to rise, sealing their only escape route. — Mike Ives, New York Times, "5 Cave Rescues That Worked: Thailand Can Find Hope in Past Success," 3 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spelunker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for spelunker
spelunker
noun
English Language Learners Definition of spelunker
US
: a person who explores and studies caves as a hobby
See the full definition for spelunker in the English Language Learners Dictionary