What does a crypt refer to?

A crypt specifically refers to a designated area for the entombment of human remains, typically located underground or within a building designed for this purpose, such as a church or mausoleum. Crypts have walls that can be either solid or vaulted and are often used to house caskets. They provide a dignified and permanent resting place for the deceased and are often more elaborate in design, reflecting the importance of those interred within them.

In contrast, the other options do not correctly define a crypt. A temporary storage space for ashes relates more to a columbarium, where cremated remains are kept; a type of mausoleum generally refers to a building that houses multiple crypts but is not defined as a crypt itself; and a natural cave used for burial describes a completely different context related to burial practices in certain historical or geographic settings, not the structured environment a crypt provides.