cellar

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An enclosed underground space, often under a building, used for storage or shelter.

   The farmhouse has several additions, added over many decades; it has three cellars, and one of them is older than the other two.

2. 2
   noun

   A wine collection, especially when stored in a cellar.

   The insurance company valued his cellar at $27,000, largely on the strength of his bottles of 1972 Château Hypothetica.

3. 3
   noun

   Last place in a league or competition; some rank near last place.

   The Tigers have been in the cellar all year long, and I'm tired of it.

4. 4
   noun

   A basement.

   Most of my tools and hardware are in the garage, but I keep some tools in the cellar, too, mainly for convenience.

5. 5
   verb

   To store (something, especially food or wine) in a cellar.

   Mr. VandenBerghe says he’s cellared such memorable bottles as the Batch 1 Adam from Hair of the Dog, a 14-year-old ale from Portland, Ore., that’s 10 percent alcohol, and the Trappistes Rochefort 10, a Quadrupel Belgian ale that peaks around age 10.

6. 6
   noun

   the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level

7. 7
   noun

   storage space where wines are stored

8. 8
   noun

   an excavation where root vegetables are stored

Etymology

From Middle English celer, seler, from Anglo-Norman celer, Old French celier (modern cellier), from Late Latin cellārium, from Latin cella. Doublet of cellarium.