grotto

[grot-oh]

noun

plural

grottoes, grottos 

1. a cave or cavern.

2. an artificial cavernlike recess or structure.

grotto

/ ˈɡrɒtəʊ /

noun

1. a small cave, esp one with attractive features

2. a construction in the form of a cave, esp as in landscaped gardens during the 18th century

Other Word Forms

• grottoed adjective
• grottolike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grotto¹

1610–20; < Italian grotta < Vulgar Latin *crupta, for Latin crypta subterranean passage, chamber. See crypt

Word History and Origins

Origin of grotto¹

C17: from Old Italian grotta, from Late Latin crypta vault; see _crypt

Example Sentences

They lived in the tiger grotto and were fed at the Art Deco-style Lion House, built for the original Fleishhacker Zoo by the Works Progress Administration.

From Los Angeles Times

At the side of the playground, there was a square of lawn, with a grotto – a small shrine centred on a statue of Mary.

From BBC

At the side of a children's playground, there was a square of lawn with a grotto – a small shrine centred on a statue of Mary.

From BBC

When I go, I wear a disposable hair net and pretend I’m a grotto nymph, crawling around the corners of my subconscious transporting me back in time.

From Los Angeles Times

The church and its grotto survived the fire, though the flames charred homes within two blocks of the structure.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cavern