grotto

== English == === Etymology === From Italian grotta, from Vulgar Latin grupta, from Classical Latin crypta. Doublet of crypt. The Philippine sense is from the holy cave in Lourdes, France. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹɒt.əʊ/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹɑ.toʊ/ Rhymes: -ɒtəʊ === Noun === grotto (plural grottos or grottoes) A small cave. An artificial cavern-like retreat. A Marian shrine, usually built in a cavern-like structure. A local organization of cavers that typically organizes trips to caves and provides information and training for caving; a caving club. (Satanism) A secretive name for a local group of underground Satanists. (Philippines) A garden or roadside shrine with a small cave containing a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary (usually Our Lady of Lourdes and sometimes paired with a water feature) (Can we verify(+) this sense?) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ====