Hole

/hoʊl/

Meaning & Definition

noun
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.
A cavity or space in something.
The mouse burrowed into a hole in the garden.
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.

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!