First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
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
2
: a depressed or low part of a surface; especially : a small valley or basin
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Origin of HOLLOW
Middle English holw, holh, from Old English holh hole, hollow — more at hole
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
2
: having a cavity within <a hollow tree>
3
: lacking in real value, sincerity, or substance : false, meaningless <hollow promises> <a victory over a weakling is hollow and without triumph — Ernest Beaglehole>
4
: 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
- 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>.
3hollow
verb
: to remove the inside of (something)
Full Definition of HOLLOW
transitive verb
1
: to make hollow
2
: 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
1
: so as to have a hollow sound
2
: 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
HOLLOWNESS Defined for Kids
1hollow
adjective hol·low \ˈhä-lō\
hol·low·erhol·low·est
Definition of HOLLOW for Kids
1
: having a space inside : not solid <a hollow chocolate egg>
2
: curved inward : sunken <hollow cheeks>
3
: suggesting a sound made in an empty place <a hollow roar>
4
: not sincere <a hollow promise>
— hol·low·ly adverb
2hollow
noun
Definition of HOLLOW for Kids
1
: 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>
2
: a small valley
3
: an empty space within something <Owls live in the hollow of the tree.>
3hollow
verb
hol·lowedhol·low·ing
Definition of HOLLOW for Kids
: to make or become hollow <The canoe was made by hollowing out a log.>
Medical Dictionary
hollow
noun hol·low \ˈhäl-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)\
Medical Definition of HOLLOW
: a depressed part of a surface or a concavity <the hollow at the back of the knee>
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