grotto

/ˈgrɑdoʊ/

/ˈgrɒtəʊ/

Other forms: grottoes; grottos

A grotto is a small cave, the kind of place where you feel comfortable, cozy, and protected from the harsh realities outside.

This word started in Greek (as the word that also gives us crypt), turned into Latin and then Italian, and finally landed in English in the 1600s as grotto. A grotto can be natural or manmade, but either way, it's a small cave or hidden room with cool and inviting features like a comfy floor or round walls. A grotto is a good place to read, write, or just hang out with friends, especially on a hot summer day.

Definitions of grotto

1. noun

   a small cave (usually with attractive features)
   synonyms: grot

   type of:

   cave

   a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea