Definition

Noun: 1. A small, often temporary, shelter or cabin: A "cabana" is a small, simple structure, typically with a roof and three walls, designed to provide shade and privacy. It is most commonly found beside a swimming pool or on a beach. 2. A dressing room or shaded lounging area: Its primary function is to serve as a private space for changing clothes, resting, or seeking shelter from the sun near a recreational water area.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We rented a cabana by the pool for the day to have a place to store our things and get some shade.
  • The beach resort offers private cabanas equipped with comfortable lounge chairs and a call button for service.
  • She changed into her swimsuit inside the wooden cabana.

Advanced Usage

• "Poolside cabana": This is a very common collocation specifying the cabana's location and primary modern use.
  • The luxury hotel is famous for its elegant poolside cabanas.
• "Cabana boy": A somewhat dated or stereotypical term for a male attendant who serves guests at a pool or beach cabana. (Note: This is a compound term and its usage can be considered clichéd or potentially offensive.)
  • In the old movies, the wealthy socialite was always served drinks by a cabana boy.

Variants and Related Words

• Cabana does not have common verb or adjective forms. It is primarily used as a noun.
• Related Concepts:
  • Gazebo: A freestanding, roofed structure, usually open on all sides, found in gardens or parks.
  • Changing room / Locker room: An indoor facility for changing clothes, not specific to pool or beach areas.
  • Bungalow: A small house or cottage, which is a permanent dwelling, unlike the typically temporary nature of a cabana.

Synonyms

• Shelter
• Hut
• Booth (e.g., a changing booth)
• Canopy (refers more to the shaded covering than the structure)

Phrasal Verbs

• The word "cabana" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms that use the word "cabana" as a key component.

Noun

1. a small tent used as a dressing room beside the sea or a swimming pool