cavity

Everyday

1. A cavity is a hollow space inside something solid. tree →
2. A cavity is a small hole in a tooth caused by decay. tree →
3. A body cavity is a space inside the body, such as the chest or the mouth. tree →

In the lessons

At the dentist a cavity is a hole in your tooth that needs a filling; eating lots of sugar and not brushing can cause cavities. In science, a cavity is any hollow, like the space inside a wall, a rock or the body (the chest cavity holds the heart and lungs). Phrases: «have a cavity», «fill a cavity», «cavity wall», «nasal cavity».

Examples

• The dentist found a cavity in my back tooth. tree →
• Brushing twice a day helps stop cavities. tree →
• Sweets and fizzy drinks can cause cavities. tree →
• The heart and lungs sit in the chest cavity. tree →
• The house has cavity walls filled with insulation. tree →
• Water had worn a cavity in the rock. tree →
• A bird nested in a cavity in the old tree. tree →
• No cavities this time — well done! tree →
• Within the cavity lay a sword, with a golden hilt, and a pair of sandals. tree →

Note

Countable: one cavity, two cavities (y changes to ies). Stress: CAV-i-ty. A cavity in a tooth does not heal by itself; a dentist fills it. «Cavity» is a more formal word for «hole» or «hollow».