Lewis & Short

căvĕa, ae, f. (gen. caveāï, Lucr. 4, 78) [cavus]. an excavated place, a hollow, cavity.

  1. I. In gen., Plin. 11, 2, 2, § 3.
    Hence,
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. An enclosure for animals (cf. caulae), a stall, cage, den, coop, beehive, bird-cage, and the like, Lucr. 6, 198; 3, 684; Hor. A. P. 473; Mart. 9, 58, 10; 9, 89, 4; Suet. Calig. 27; id. Ner. 29 al.
      Of a birdcage, Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 67; id. Curc. 3, 1, 79; cf. id. Capt. 1, 2, 15; Cic. Div. 2, 35, 73; id. N. D. 2, 3, 7; Mart. 14, 77.
      Of a beehive, Verg. G. 4, 58; Col. 9, 7, 4; 9, 15, 7; 9, 15, 9.
      Hence,
    2. B. An enclosure about a young tree, in order to protect it from injury, Col. 5, 6, 21; 5, 9, 11; Pall. Febr. 10, 5; a hedge before the windows of a cage, Col. 8, 8, 4.
    3. C. In the human body.
      1. 1. The roof of the mouth, Prud. Cath. 2, 92.
      2. 2. The sockets of the eyes, Lact. Mort. Pers. 40, 5.
    4. D. The part of the theatre in which spectators sat, spectators’ seats or benches, Plaut. Am. prol. 66; Cic. Lael. 7, 24; Lucr. 4, 78; Verg. A. 5, 340; 8, 636; on account of the ascending rows of benches, ima or prima, the seat of the nobility, media and summa or ultima, the seat of the lower classes, Cic. Sen. 14, 48; Suet. Aug. 44; id. Claud. 21; Sen. Tranq. 11: CAV. II., Inscr. Orell. 2539; cf. Dict. of Antiq.
      1. 2. Meton.
        1. a. (Pars pro toto.) The theatre in gen., Plaut. Truc. 5, 1. 39; Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 38.
        2. b. The spectators, Stat. Th. 1, 423.