den
gb/dˈɛn/ us/dˈɛn/
A2
English
~ 5000
pihenőszoba, kuckó, odú, barlang, bűnfészek, dolgozószoba, munkaszoba
NOUN
A2
1
pihenőszoba
B1
kuckó
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] sits in the den
We spent the evening watching movies in the den.
Az estét a pihenőszobában töltöttük, filmeket néztünk.
Her den is filled with books and plants.
A pihenőszobája tele van könyvekkel és növényekkel.
The kids are playing video games in the den.
They converted the spare bedroom into a den.
I like to read in the den after work.
Learner examples
We watch TV in the den.
A pihenőszobában tévét nézünk.
The den has a big sofa.
A pihenőszobában van egy nagy kanapé.
I read books in the den.
Our den is small but warm.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'den' with 'living room'; 'den' is usually smaller and more private.
Meaning
A small comfortable living room
Collocations
cozy den
|family den
|basement den
|sit in the den
Synonyms
living room (Usually larger and more formal; 'den' is smaller and cozier.)
Antonyms
kitchen (A room for cooking, not for relaxing.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|housing
|daily_life
Definition
A small, cozy room in a house where people relax or watch TV.
A small, comfortable room in a home used for relaxation, reading, watching television, or similar activities.
NOUN
A2
2
Usage pattern:
[animal] returns to its den
The fox returned to its den at night.
A róka éjjel visszatért az odújába.
We found a bear's den in the forest.
Találtunk egy medvebarlangot az erdőben.
Snakes sometimes share a den during winter.
The cubs stayed inside the den until spring.
Researchers set up cameras near the wolf's den.
Learner examples
A fox sleeps in a den.
A róka egy odúban alszik.
The bear is in its den.
A medve a barlangjában van.
We saw a den in the forest.
The wolf ran to its den.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'cave'; a cave is bigger and not always used by animals.
Meaning
Animal's shelter or lair
Collocations
wolf's den
|bear's den
|animal den
|hidden den
Synonyms
lair ('Lair' can sound more dangerous or sinister.)
Antonyms
open field (An exposed area without shelter.)
Themes
nature
|animals
Definition
A place where a wild animal lives or rests.
The shelter or hidden resting place of a wild animal.
NOUN
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] hides in a den of [activity]
The police raided a gambling den downtown.
A rendőrség razziát tartott egy belvárosi kártyabarlangban.
He was suspected of running a drug den.
Azzal gyanúsították, hogy egy drogbarlangot üzemeltet.
The warehouse was a den of criminals.
They discovered an opium den in the old building.
The novel describes the city’s underworld dens.
Learner examples
The police found a gambling den.
A rendőrség talált egy kártyabarlangot.
The men met in a drug den.
A férfiak egy drogbarlangban találkoztak.
They were hiding in a den of thieves.
The police closed the crime den.
Common mistake:
Learners might think 'den' here means an animal's home; context shows it means an illegal place.
Meaning
Place for illegal activities
Collocations
den of thieves
|gambling den
|opium den
|criminal den
Synonyms
hideout ('Hideout' is more general and not always illegal.)
Antonyms
police station (A lawful place controlled by authorities.)
Themes
crime
|society
|law
|daily_life
Definition
A secret place where people do bad or illegal things.
A secret or hidden place where people engage in illegal or immoral activities.
NOUN
B1
4
dolgozószoba
B1
munkaszoba
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] works in the den
He spends most of his evenings in his den working on his novel.
Az estéi nagy részét a dolgozószobájában tölti, a regényén dolgozva.
The den doubles as her home office.
A dolgozószobája egyben otthoni irodaként is szolgál.
She keeps all her important papers in her den.
The house has three bedrooms and a small den.
He prefers to read in his quiet den.
Learner examples
He works in his den every night.
Minden este a dolgozószobájában dolgozik.
Her den is full of books.
A dolgozószobája tele van könyvekkel.
I write letters in my den.
The den is my favorite room.
Meaning
Private study or workroom
Collocations
study den
|quiet den
|home office den
Synonyms
study ('Study' is more formal; 'den' is more informal and homely.)
Antonyms
open-plan office (A shared space without private rooms.)
Themes
work
|home
|housing
Definition
A quiet room where someone works or reads alone.
A private room in a house or office used for reading, writing, or working.
Grammar
Dictionary form
den
IPA
GB/dˈɛn/
US/dˈɛn/
Syllables & stress
den (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (den)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: den
- Plural: dens
Word family
Forms
dens
noun
Related words
lair
noun
hideout
noun
Expressions
den of thieves
1/dˈɛn əv θˈivz/
idiom
Place where criminals gather
A place where criminals meet and work together.
Examples
- The hideout was truly a den of thieves.
- Some say the market is nothing but a den of thieves.
den of iniquity
1/dˈɛn əv ɪnˈɪkwɪti/
idiom
Place of vice or corruption
A place where many bad or illegal things happen often.
Examples
- Many viewed the nightclub as a den of iniquity.
- The novel depicted the city as a sprawling den of iniquity.
den of iniquity
2/dˈɛn əv ɪnˈɪkwɪti/
idiom
informal
place full of immoral behavior
A place where many people often do very bad, immoral, or sinful things, such as crime, drugs, or illegal activities.
Examples
- They joked that the nightclub was a den of iniquity after seeing what went on inside.
- The old gambling hall was once known as a den of iniquity in the town.
- He warned his son to stay away from that den of iniquity on the edge of the city.