Find the word definition

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Cave bear

Cave \Cave\ (k[=a]v), n. [F. cave, L. cavus hollow, whence cavea cavity. Cf. Cage.]

  1. A hollow place in the earth, either natural or artificial; a subterraneous cavity; a cavern; a den.

  2. Any hollow place, or part; a cavity. [Obs.] ``The cave of the ear.''
    --Bacon.

  3. (Eng. Politics) A coalition or group of seceders from a political party, as from the Liberal party in England in 1866. See Adullam, Cave of, in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.

    Cave bear (Zo["o]l.), a very large fossil bear ( Ursus spel[ae]us) similar to the grizzly bear, but large; common in European caves.

    Cave dweller, a savage of prehistoric times whose dwelling place was a cave.
    --Tylor.

    Cave hyena (Zo["o]l.), a fossil hyena found abundanty in British caves, now usually regarded as a large variety of the living African spotted hyena.

    Cave lion (Zo["o]l.), a fossil lion found in the caves of Europe, believed to be a large variety of the African lion.

    Bone cave. See under Bone.

Wiktionary
cave bear

n. A large extinct species of bear, (taxlink Ursus spelaeus species noshow=1).

Wikipedia
Cave bear

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) was a species of bear that lived in Europe during the Pleistocene and became extinct about 24,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum.

Both the name "cave" and the scientific name spelaeus are because fossils of this species were mostly found in caves, showing that cave bears may have spent more time in caves than the brown bear, which uses caves only for hibernation. Consequently, in the course of time, whole layers of bones, almost entire skeletons, were found in many caves.

Usage examples of "cave bear".

The man knew that Old White was afraid of nothing, and he knew the reputation of the mighty cave bear for fearlessness and bellicosity.

The Great Cave Bear decided to allow him to remain, but he was still marked.

I did ask my totem, and the spirit of Ursus, the Great Cave Bear, to help him find his way.

A fierce gray cave bear waded toward the berserker, its powerful upper limbs spread in preparation for a lethal hug.

As she continued, she forgot her nervousness and just spoke naturally, with all of the emotion and genuine feelings about her life with the people who called themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear.

Blood on its claws, the great cave bear wheeled from its first victim seeking a next.