First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1cage
noun \ˈkāj\
: a box made of wire or metal bars in which people keep animals or birds
Full Definition of CAGE
1
: a box or enclosure having some openwork for confining or carrying animals (as birds)
2
a : a barred cell for confining prisoners b : a fenced area for prisoners of war
3
: a framework serving as support <the steel cage of a skyscraper>
4
a : an enclosure resembling a cage in form or purpose <a cashier's cage> b : an arrangement of atoms or molecules so bonded as to enclose a space in which another atom or ion (as of a metal) can reside
5
a : batting cage b : a goal consisting of posts or a frame with a net attached (as in ice hockey)
6
: a large building containing an area for practicing outdoor sports and often adapted for indoor events
— cage·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun
See cage defined for English-language learners
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Origin of CAGE
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin cavea cavity, cage, from cavus hollow — more at cave
2cage
verb
cagedcag·ing
Definition of CAGE
transitive verb
1
: to confine or keep in or as if in a cage
2
: to drive (as a puck) into a cage and score a goal
First Known Use of CAGE
1556
Cage
biographical name \ˈkāj\
Definition of CAGE
John Milton 1912–1992 Am. composer
CAGE[1] Defined for Kids
1cage
noun \ˈkāj\
Definition of CAGE for Kids
1
: a box or enclosure that has large openings covered usually with wire net or bars and is used for keeping birds or animals <a hamster cage>
2
: an enclosure like a cage in shape or purpose <a bank teller's cage>
2cage
verb
cagedcag·ing
Definition of CAGE for Kids
: to put or keep in or as if in a cage <She caged the birds together.>
Medical Dictionary
cage
noun \ˈkāj\
Medical Definition of CAGE
: an arrangement of atoms or molecules so bonded as to enclose a space in which another atom or ion (as of a metal) can reside
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