# cataphile

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkætəfaɪl/

## Definitions
1. A type of urban explorer who visits the ancient catacombs and quarries linked by tunnels beneath Paris, France.
2. An individual who explores subterranean catacombs, mines, or quarries.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *ḱóm
Borrowed from French cataphile, a blend of catacombe (“catacomb”) + -phile (suffix denoting one who loves a thing).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cataphile