WordGarden.iohole
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈəʊl/
US
- /ˈhoʊl/
Meanings
Noun
an opening or hollow space in a surface, object, or ground
a missing part, gap, or weakness in something abstract
a golf cup or one section of a golf course
More meaningsFewer meanings
an unpleasant, shabby, or cramped place
a bodily opening, especially in crude sexual or anatomical use
Verb
to make a hole in something
Beyond the definition
A hole isn't just an empty space. It's a break in something solid, a way through something, or a place where something is missing. You might find a hole in your sock, dig one in the garden, or feel like you're in a hole when life gets hard.
Think of a mouse making a hole in the wall, a golfer aiming for the hole, or the ozone hole in the sky. Holes can be tiny, like one made by a pin, or huge and dangerous, like a sinkhole. Sometimes the word is not physical at all. A story can have plot holes, which means parts of it do not make sense.
The word "hole" refers to an opening, gap, or empty space in something solid, or a passage through something else. It is a very flexible word, and its meanings go beyond the physical sense. For example, a hole in a wall, a hole in the ground, or a hole in a piece of cloth all describe a real opening.
But we also use "hole" in figurative ways. A hole in your argument means there is a weak point in your reasoning, while being in a financial hole suggests you are deeply in debt. The hole in a donut is the empty space in its center, and a plot hole is a part of a story that does not fit with the rest.
Historically, "hole" comes from Old English, simply meaning an opening or cavity. It's been used for centuries to describe everything from animal burrows to defensive fortifications.
You might dig a hole, fall into a hole, or try to fill a hole. The word also appears in verb phrases: "hole up" means to hide or stay in a safe place for a while.
So whether it is a physical opening, a flaw in logic, or a hiding place, "hole" usually points to an empty or missing part inside something else.
Examples
- 1
Clothing
There's a hole in my sock.
- 2
Garden
The dog dug a hole in the garden.
- 3
Animal burrow
The rabbit disappeared down a hole in the ground.
- 4
Roof damage
Rain was coming through a hole in the roof.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Moving damage
The movers accidentally put a hole in the wall.
- 6
Budget shortfall
They need to fill a $2 million hole in the budget.
- 7
Weak argument
There's a hole in your argument.
- 8
Small cafe
We ate at a tiny hole-in-the-wall cafe near the station.
- Phrasehole-in-the-wall
a very small, simple shop or restaurant
- 9
Debt
After paying his bills, he was still in the hole at the end of the month.
- Phrasein the hole
owing money
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- holenounverb
Forms
- holespluralnounverb
- holedpast tenseverbnoun
- holing-ing formverbnoun