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¹hollow

noun hol·low \ˈhä-(ˌ)lō\

: a place or area (especially on the ground) that is lower than the area around it

: an empty space inside of something

Full Definition of HOLLOW

: an unfilled space : cavity, hole

: a depressed or low part of a surface; especially : a small valley or basin

See hollow defined for English-language learners

See hollow defined for kids

Origin of HOLLOW

Middle English holw, holh, from Old English holh hole, hollow — more at hole

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to HOLLOW

Synonyms: cavity, concavity, dent, depression, dint, hole, indentation, indenture, pit, recess

Antonyms: bulge, camber, convexity, jut, projection, protrusion, protuberance

²hollow

adjective

: having nothing inside : not solid

: curved inward or down

: not having real value or meaning

hol·low·er \ˈhä-lə-wər\ hol·low·est \-lə-wəst\

Full Definition of HOLLOW

: having an indentation or inward curve : concave, sunken

: having a cavity within <a hollow tree>

: lacking in real value, sincerity, or substance : false, meaningless <hollow promises> <a victory over a weakling is hollow and without triumph — Ernest Beaglehole>

: reverberating like a sound made in or by beating on a large empty enclosure : muffled

— hol·low·ly \ˈhä-lō-lē, -lə-lē\ adverb

— hol·low·ness noun

See hollow defined for English-language learners

Origin of HOLLOW

Middle English holw, holh, from holh hole

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to HOLLOW

Synonyms: concave, dented, depressed, dished, indented, recessed, sunken

Antonyms: bulging, cambered, convex, protruding, protrusive, protuberant

Synonym Discussion of HOLLOW

vain, nugatory, otiose, idle, empty, hollow mean being without worth or significance. vain implies either absolute or relative absence of value <vain promises>. nugatory suggests triviality or insignificance <a monarch with nugatory powers>. otiose suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity <a film without a single otiose scene>. idle suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect <idle speculations>. empty and hollow suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness <an empty attempt at reconciliation> <a hollow victory>.

Rhymes with HOLLOW

follow, hollo, swallow, wallow

³hollow

verb

: to remove the inside of (something)

Full Definition of HOLLOW

transitive verb

: to make hollow

: to form by a hollowing action —usually used with out <rain barrels hollowed out from trees — Robert Shaplen>

intransitive verb

: to become hollow

See hollow defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of HOLLOW

15th century

⁴hollow

adverb

Definition of HOLLOW

: so as to have a hollow sound

: completely, thoroughly <an ongoing story that has the old cowboy-and-Indians genre beat hollow — Barbara Bannon> —often used with all

First Known Use of HOLLOW

1601

HOLLOW Defined for Kids

¹hollow

adjective hol·low \ˈhä-lō\

hol·low·erhol·low·est

Definition of HOLLOW for Kids

: having a space inside : not solid <a hollow chocolate egg>

: curved inward : sunken <hollow cheeks>

: suggesting a sound made in an empty place <a hollow roar>

: not sincere <a hollow promise>

— hol·low·ly adverb

²hollow

noun

Definition of HOLLOW for Kids

: a low spot in a surface <Circling around through the flats, I came to the hollow above the Pritchards' place. — Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows>

: a small valley

: an empty space within something <Owls live in the hollow of the tree.>