Spele

Spele is a combining form in English derived from the Greek word spelē, meaning cave. It is used primarily to form terms related to caves and cave studies and is not generally used as a standalone word in everyday language.

In modern usage, the combining form often appears as spele- or speleo- before a root or suffix. It is common in scientific and academic terms such as speleology (the study of caves), speleogenesis (the formation and development of caves), and speleothem (a cave mineral deposit like stalactites and stalagmites). The form speleo- is particularly widespread in technical vocabulary, while spele- appears in some related coinages and names of cave-related disciplines.

Common examples of spele-related terms emphasize different aspects of caves: speleology as a discipline, speleogenesis as a geological process, and speleothem as a classification for mineral formations within caves. Other related terms include speleogeography (mapping and description of cave systems) and speleogen (a feature formed during cave development). The prefix also features in fields such as biology and hydrology when describing cave-adapted organisms or cave waters.

Separately from the spele prefix, the root spel- occurs in everyday words such as spelunker (a person who explores caves) and spelunking (the activity of cave exploration). These terms derive from Latin spelunca for cave and are distinct from the Greek-derived spele- prefix, though both relate to caves in meaning.

Overall, spele- and its variants function as specialized linguistic tools to denote cave-related phenomena, sciences, and activities within geology, geography, biology, and archaeology.