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0 English - Dictionary monolingual

Hole

hoʊl
Very common
~ 1300
~ 1300, Very common
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
An opening or hollow place in something solid, A small cavity or depression in a surface, A difficult or embarrassing situation, A slang term for the anus

Hole - Meanings

An opening or hollow place in something solid

Example: He dug a hole in the ground to plant the tree.
Usage: formalContext: construction, gardening
Note: This is the most common meaning of 'hole' and is used in various contexts related to openings or hollow spaces.

A small cavity or depression in a surface

Example: There was a hole in the wall where the painting used to hang.
Usage: formalContext: architecture, interior design
Note: This meaning refers to a small opening or indentation in a surface, often used in descriptions of physical spaces.

A difficult or embarrassing situation

Example: He found himself in a financial hole after losing his job.
Usage: informalContext: everyday conversations
Note: This meaning is more figurative and is commonly used to describe challenging or problematic situations.

A slang term for the anus

Example: He fell and hurt his hole.
Usage: informalContext: colloquial language
Note: This usage is considered vulgar and should be used with caution, as it may be offensive in some contexts.

Hole's synonyms

opening

An opening is a gap or hole that allows entry or exit.
Example: The opening in the fence allowed the cat to escape.
Note: Opening is a more general term that can refer to any gap or hole, while hole specifically implies a cavity or void.

aperture

An aperture is a small opening or hole, especially in a camera or telescope.
Example: The camera lens has a small aperture for capturing light.
Note: Aperture is a more technical term often used in photography or optics contexts.

void

A void is an empty space or cavity, often implying a lack or absence of something.
Example: The void in the wall needed to be filled with plaster.
Note: Void emphasizes the emptiness or lack within a space, while hole focuses on the physical opening or gap.

Hole expressions, common phrases

Dig yourself into a hole

To dig oneself into a hole means to make a situation worse through one's actions or words, resulting in difficulties or problems.
Example: He kept lying, and now he's dug himself into a hole he can't get out of.
Note: The phrase emphasizes a situation where someone's actions have worsened a problem, like digging deeper into a hole.

Mind the gap

This phrase is commonly used in public transportation to remind passengers to be cautious of the space or hole between the platform and the train.
Example: When getting off the train, mind the gap between the platform and the train.
Note: It focuses on the caution needed when dealing with physical gaps, rather than just the word 'hole.'

In a hole

Being 'in a hole' means being in a difficult or challenging situation, usually related to financial or personal troubles.
Example: After losing his job, he found himself in a financial hole.
Note: It denotes being stuck in a tough situation, rather than just a physical hole.

Bury/hide one's head in the sand

To bury or hide one's head in the sand means to ignore or avoid a problem or danger instead of facing it.
Example: Ignoring the warning signs, he chose to bury his head in the sand and not deal with the problem.
Note: This phrase refers to the action of ostriches supposedly burying their heads in the sand when faced with danger, indicating avoidance.

Fall into a pothole

To fall into a pothole means to unexpectedly encounter a depression or hole in the road, often causing damage or problems.
Example: While driving, the car unexpectedly fell into a pothole, causing damage to the tires.
Note: It specifically refers to encountering holes or depressions in roads, emphasizing the unexpected nature of such incidents.

Fill a void

To fill a void means to alleviate or replace a sense of emptiness or lack, often in emotional or psychological contexts.
Example: She tried to fill the void in her life by taking up a new hobby.
Note: It signifies filling an emotional or abstract 'hole,' rather than a physical one.

Down the rabbit hole

Going down the rabbit hole refers to delving deep into a complex or confusing situation, often leading to unexpected discoveries or obsessions.
Example: Once she started researching conspiracy theories online, she went down the rabbit hole and couldn't stop.
Note: This phrase alludes to Alice's adventures in Wonderland, indicating a journey into something intricate or puzzling.

Hole everyday (slang) expressions

Hole in one

A term used in golf when a player successfully completes a hole with one stroke, scoring a point.
Example: He hit a hole in one on the seventh green.
Note: Refers specifically to achieving success in a single stroke in the context of golf.

Rathole

Used to describe a place where things are discarded or stored haphazardly.
Example: She threw the receipt in a rathole and forgot about it.
Note: The term emphasizes the messiness or lack of organization in comparison to a regular hole.

Watering hole

A slang term for a bar, pub, or any social gathering place where people meet to drink.
Example: Let's meet at our favorite watering hole after work.
Note: Refers to a specific type of hole as a place for socializing and drinking rather than a literal hole.

Sinkhole

A depression or hole in the ground caused by the collapse of surface soil, rock, or other underlying material.
Example: The road was closed due to a sinkhole forming overnight.
Note: A sinkhole is a specific geological phenomenon, distinct from a generic hole in the ground.

Hole - Examples

There's a hole in my sock.
The car got stuck in a deep hole.
She drilled a hole in the wall.

Hole grammar

Hole - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)
Lemma: hole
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): holes
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): hole
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): holed
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): holing
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): holes
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): hole
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): hole
Syllables, Separation and Stress
hole Contains 1 syllables: hole
Phonetic transcription: ˈhōl
hole , ˈhōl (The red syllable is stressed)

Hole - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
hole: ~ 1300 (Very common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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