cave and cavern

[mollykins]

what's the difference?

[Count-A-Strong]

R and
N

[boxtops]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cave
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cavern

depending on the context, you could use either

[redman41]

The Cavern is in Liverpool molly.......

[wildwood]

I always thought a cavern was a cave that is not deep - higher/wider than deep.

Looks like I have to re adjust my thinking.

[scotman]

Do you not possess a dictionary?

[mollykins]

The definitions meant almost the same but reworded.

[another-view]

It's just language Molly.

What's the difference between an oblong and a rectangle?
Or the difference between, speedy, fast, hastily, quickly and so on.

[heathfield]

Cava is the Latin source, meaning a hollow, or a cavity. Cavern, I've always associated with large size, as in cavernous.

[Marijn]

cave and cavern can mean the same thing, but cavern can also mean any vast, dark space.

[scotman]

From OED

Cavern

cavern (______), n. Also 4_7 cauerne, 5_6 kauerne.
[a. F. caverne cave, ad. L. caverna cave, den, cavity, f. cav-us hollow: see -ern.]
1. A hollow place under ground; a subterranean (or submarine) cavity; a cave.
The Fr. caverne is the exact equivalent of Eng. cave; F. cave is a subterranean hollow generally, a cellar, etc. In Eng., cave is the ordinary commonplace term, cavern is vaguer and more rhetorical, usually with associations of vastness, or indefiniteness of extent or limits.

and

Cave

cave (____), n.1 Also 4 kaave, 4_5 kave.
[a. F. cave:---L. cava, pl. of cavum a hollow (place), neuter of cavus hollow.]
1. a. A hollow place opening more or less horizontally under the ground; a cavern, den, habitation in the earth.

2. gen. A hollow place of any kind, a cavity.

[naomi24]

Very good Count. :o)

[mollykins]

Thanks.