The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CATACOMB
C
A
T
A
C
O
M
B
More clues leading to the result CATACOMB
- Pet getting a groom in caves
- A search, following pet in series of tunnels
- A short stick found during search of burial site
- Tiger may be one with teeth, guarding a burial place
- Animal and a collection of teeth found in burial site
- Pet and a ferret around in a resting place
- Act, going out on a search in underground passage
- A search goes after Tom, perhaps into cave
- Vessel with some honey in crypt
- Animal on a hunt through tunnel
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "caves" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case caves = catacomb.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CATACOMB mean?
CATACOMB noun- (often plural) An underground system of tunnels and chambers with recesses for graves, used (in former times) as a cemetery; a tunnel system used for burying the dead, as in Paris or Ancient Rome.