hole Definition

hole
noun

1. A hollow area or cavity in something solid.

Thesaurus: cave, cavity, den, burrow, hollow, orifice, pore.
2. An aperture or gap in or through something.

Example: a hole in the wall
Thesaurus: aperture, opening, window, eyelet, perforation, puncture, tear, cleft, fissure, rift.
3. An animal's refuge or excavation.
4. colloq
An unpleasant or contemptible place.
5. colloq
An awkward or difficult situation.
Thesaurus: difficulty, impasse, predicament, quandary, scrape, tangle, imbroglio, quagmire, pickle.
6. colloq
A fault or error.
Example: a hole in the argument
7a. golf.
A cylindrical hollow in the middle of each green, into which the ball is hit;
7b. golf.
Each section of a golf course extending from the tee to the green.
8. electronics.
An energy deficit caused by the removal of an electron, which leaves a positive charge.

verb holed, holing

1. To make a hole in something.
2. To hit or play (a ball, etc) into a hole.

Derivative: holey

See separate entry.

Idiom: make a hole in something

colloq
To use up a large amount of it, eg money.
Thesaurus: consume, expend, use up.

Idiom: in holes

Full of holes.

Idiom: pick holes in something

To find fault with it.
Thesaurus: criticize, disprove, refute, rebut, controvert, expose.

Idiom: toad in the hole

A dish comprising sausages cooked in batter.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon hol.

Phrasal Verb: hole up

To go to earth; to hide.

Phrasal Verb: hole out

To play the ball into the hole.