Cellar

/ˈsɛl.ər/

Meaning & Definition

noun
An underground room or space, typically used for storage, especially of wine or food.
The old house had a dusty cellar filled with vintage wine bottles.
A room below ground level, especially one used for storing goods or as a working area.
They converted the cellar into a cozy workshop for their crafts.
A part of a building that is below the ground floor.
He stumbled down the stairs into the dark cellar where the treasures were kept.
The lower part of a cellar in a building that is used for a specific purpose.
The cellar had a small door that led to an outdoor storage area.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French 'celier', from Latin 'cella' meaning storeroom.

Common Phrases and Expressions

wine cellar
A specific type of cellar used for storing wine at controlled temperatures.
cellar door
An expression considered phonetically beautiful, often used in literary contexts.

Related Words

basement
A floor of a building that is partly or entirely below ground level.
storage
The action or manner of storing something for use when required.

Slang Meanings

Cellar dweller
He was such a cellar dweller, spending all his free time gaming downstairs.
Wine cellar aficionado
She became known as a wine cellar aficionado, always discovering rare vintages.