كهف

Root entry · 7 derived lemmas

This root primarily denotes a cave or hollow, especially a large one in a mountain. It extends metaphorically to mean a refuge or shelter, and also includes place names and personal names.

Derived headwords

الكَهْفnoun

1.
Caveboth
A large hollow or cave in a mountain, larger than a ghār (غار). It is described as being like a house carved into a mountain.

غَارnoun

1.
Cave, grottoboth
A small cave or grotto, smaller than a kahf (كهف).

كُهُوفnoun

1.
Cavesboth
The plural of kahf (كهف), referring to multiple caves.

تَكَهَّفَverb

1.
To form cavesclassical
Said of a mountain, meaning it developed caves within it.
2.
To develop hollowsclassical
Said of a well, meaning hollows formed within it.

كَهْفnoun

1.
Refuge, shelterboth
A person who serves as a refuge or shelter for someone else, a place of protection.

أَكْيَهَفname

1.
Place nameclassical
A proper noun referring to a specific location.

كَهْفَةname

1.
Female given nameclassical
A female given name, mentioned as Kahfah bint Musād.

Parallel reading

الكهف: كالمغارة في الجبل إلا أنه أوسع منها

The kahf: is like a cave in the mountain, except that it is wider than it.

فإذا صغر فهو غار

And if it is small, it is a ghār.

وفي الصحاح: الكهف كالبيت المنقور في الجبل

And in Al-Sahah: the kahf is like a house carved into the mountain.

وجمعه كهوف

And its plural is kuhūf.

وتكهف الجبل: صارت فيه كهوف

And takahhaf the mountain: caves became in it.

وتكهفت البئر: صار فيها مثل ذلك

And takahhaf the well: something like that occurred in it.

ويقال: فلان كهف فلان أي ملجأ

And it is said: So-and-so is the kahf of so-and-so, meaning a refuge.

يقال فلان كهف أهل الريب إذا كانوا يلوذون به فيكون وزرا وملجأ لهم

It is said, 'So-and-so is a refuge for people of doubt if they seek protection with him, so he becomes a sanctuary and a refuge for them.'

وأكيهف: موضع

And Akihf: a place.

وكهفة: اسم امرأة، وهي كهفة بنت مصاد أحد بني نبهان

And Kahfah: the name of a woman, and she is Kahfah daughter of Musād, one of the Banū Nabhān.