First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1hole
noun \ˈhōl\
: an opening into or through something
: a hollow place in the ground
: a place in the ground where an animal lives
Full Definition of HOLE
1
a : an opening through something : perforation <have a hole in my coat> b : an area where something is missing : gap: as (1) : a serious discrepancy : flaw, weakness <some holes in your logic> (2) : an opening in a defensive formation; especially : the area of a baseball field between the positions of shortstop and third baseman (3) : a defect in a crystal (as of a semiconductor) that is due to an electron's having left its normal position in one of the crystal bonds and that is equivalent in many respects to a positively charged particle
2
: a hollowed-out place: as a : a cave, pit, or well in the ground b : burrow c : an unusually deep place in a body of water (as a river)
3
a : a wretched or dreary place b : a prison cell especially for solitary confinement
4
a : a shallow cylindrical hole in the putting green of a golf course into which the ball is played b : a part of the golf course from tee to putting green <just beginning play on the third hole>; also : the play on such a hole as a unit of scoring <won the hole by two strokes>
5
a : an awkward position or circumstance : fix <got the rebels out of a hole at the battle — Kenneth Roberts> b : a position of owing or losing money <$10 million in the hole> <raising money to get out of the hole>
— in the hole
1
: having a score below zero
2
: at a disadvantage
See hole defined for English-language learners
See hole defined for kids
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Origin of HOLE
Middle English, from Old English hol (from neuter of hol, adjective, hollow) & holh; akin to Old High German hol, adjective, hollow and perhaps to Old English helan to conceal — more at hell
Related to HOLE
- Synonyms
- aperture, opening, orifice, perforation
- Antonyms
- bulge, camber, convexity, jut, projection, protrusion, protuberance
2hole
verb
golf : to hit (the ball) into the hole
holedhol·ing
Full Definition of HOLE
transitive verb
1
: to make a hole in
2
: to drive or hit into a hole <hole a putt>
intransitive verb
: to make a hole in something
See hole defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of HOLE
before 12th century
HOLED Defined for Kids
hole
noun \ˈhōl\
Definition of HOLE for Kids
1
: an opening into or through something <There's a hole in the roof.>
2
: a hollowed out place <I dug a hole.>
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