Hole

/hoʊl/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A hollow place in a solid body or surface.
She accidentally stepped into a hole in the ground.
An opening through something.
There was a hole in the wall where the pipe used to be.
A cavity or space in something.
The mouse burrowed into a hole in the garden.
A difficult or awkward situation.
He found himself in a financial hole after making bad investments.
In golf, the term for the cup that the ball is played into.
She sank the ball into the hole for her first birdie.

Etymology

Middle English hol, from Old English holh; related to Old Norse hol, hole.

Common Phrases and Expressions

black hole
A region of space with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.
a hole in the ground
A place where dirt has been removed, creating a depression on the surface.
dig a hole
To create a cavity in the ground, often used figuratively for creating problems.

Related Words

cavity
A hollow space within a solid object.
gap
An empty space or interval.
pit
A large hole in the ground.

Slang Meanings

An unpleasant or difficult situation.
I'm really in a hole after that last financial hit.
A derogatory term for a person's home or living space.
I can't believe you live in this hole!