avens
|a-vens|
/ˈeɪvənz/
(aven)
vertical pit; Geum plants
Etymology
'aven' originates from French (specifically Occitan 'aven'), where it meant 'a pit, chasm, or natural hollow.'
'aven' passed from Occitan/French into English as 'aven' (with the plural 'avens'); the word was adopted to describe vertical cave shafts and later used as a common name for certain plants.
Initially, it meant 'a pit or chasm' and this core sense persisted; the term was later specialized for cave shafts and also transferred as a plant name for species in the genus Geum.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'aven': a vertical shaft in a cave leading upward to the surface (a natural chimney or pit).
The caving team rappelled down into several avens in the limestone system.
Synonyms
Noun 2
plural of 'aven': common name for plants of the genus Geum (herbaceous flowering plants often called avens).
The garden bed was filled with pink and yellow avens that bloomed in spring.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/01 08:12