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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Hole Meaning: Definitions, Examples & Usage Guide (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：an opening (hole)

hole 🔊

/hoʊl/

an empty space in something solid that goes through it or into it.

Close-up of a hole in a wall with light shining through

an opening 🔊

➕

/ən ˈoʊpənɪŋ/

A gap or cavity in a solid object that goes completely through or into it.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old English "hol" (cavity, hollow); related to "hollow" and Dutch "hol".

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a donut with a hole—once you see it, you never forget the empty space in the middle.

📖 Example

There's a small hole in my sock, and my big toe is sticking out. 🔊 There's a small hole in my sock, and my big toe is sticking out.

🔗 Collocations

poke a hole – to make a hole by pushing something through

fill a hole – to repair or block an opening

a gaping hole – a very large and noticeable opening

🔄 Synonyms

opening (n.) – a space or gap that allows passage or entrance

cavity (n.) – a hollow space inside a solid object

puncture (n.) – a small hole made by a sharp object

🚫 Antonyms

plug (n.) – a piece of material used to fill a hole

seal (n.) – something that closes an opening tightly

🌱 Derivatives

holey (adj.) – full of holes

holed (adj.) – having a hole or holes (often in golf)

📖 Cultural Story

The word "hole" has remained nearly unchanged since Old English. In modern culture, "hole in one" is a celebrated golf term, and "black hole" signifies an astronomical phenomenon with intense gravity.

Meaning 2：a pit (hole)

hole 🔊

/hoʊl/

a hollow place in the ground.

Water-filled pothole on a muddy country road

a pit 🔊

➕

/ə pɪt/

A hollow place in the ground, often natural or caused by wear.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Watch out for that big hole in the path; you might trip over it. 🔊 Watch out for that big hole in the path; you might trip over it.

🔗 Collocations

dig a hole – to make a pit in the ground using a tool

pothole – a deep hole in the surface of a road

a bottomless hole – a hole that seems to have no end (often figurative)

🔄 Synonyms

pit (n.) – a large hole in the ground

trench (n.) – a long, narrow hole dug in the ground

cavity (n.) – a hollow area in the earth's surface

🚫 Antonyms

mound (n.) – a raised area of earth or stones

hill (n.) – a naturally raised area of land

🌱 Derivatives

holey (adj.) – having many holes

holer (n.) – a tool or person that makes holes

Meaning 3：a flaw (hole)

hole 🔊

/hoʊl/

a part of an argument, plan etc. that is missing or not good enough.

a flaw 🔊

➕

/ə flɔː/

A missing or weak part in an argument, plan, or theory that makes it less effective or valid.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The detective found a major hole in the suspect's alibi; his story didn't match the security camera footage. 🔊 The detective found a major hole in the suspect's alibi; his story didn't match the security camera footage.

🔗 Collocations

find a hole – to discover a weakness or gap in reasoning

plug a hole – to fix a flaw or missing part

a gaping hole – a very obvious and serious flaw

🔄 Synonyms

flaw (n.) – a mistake or weakness in something

weakness (n.) – a point where something is not strong or effective

gap (n.) – an empty space or lack of something needed

🚫 Antonyms

strength (n.) – a good quality that makes something effective

solution (n.) – a way to fix a problem or fill a gap

🌱 Derivatives

holey (adj.) – having flaws or gaps (informal)