Cavitate
/ˈkævɪteɪt/noun
To form a cavity or hollow space, or to become hollowed out.
Did you know?Cavitate comes from the same ancient root as *cave* and *cavity*, from Latin *cavus* meaning “hollow,” so the word’s whole history is about emptiness made visible.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*keu̯-
“to swell, be hollow, or bend inward”
Latin
Latin
cavus
“hollow, concave, empty”
Late Latin
Latin
cavitare
“to make hollow”
16th Century
English
cavitate
“to hollow out or form a cavity”
Modern English
English
cavitate
“to form a cavity or hollow space, or to become hollowed out”