hole
hole Lexical Profile
hole Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A hollow space, opening, or gap in a solid body or surface.
"The mechanic had to patch a large hole in the tire before we could continue our road trip."
An underground burrow or natural shelter used by an animal.
"The rabbit quickly retreated into its hole as the dog approached the field."
A difficult, awkward, or financially problematic situation.
"His poor investments over the past decade have put him in a deep financial hole."
• verb
To hit a ball into a hole (especially in the sport of golf).
"She holed the final putt from twenty feet away to win the regional championship."
To make a hole or holes in something.
"The submerged rock holed the hull of the small sailing boat, causing it to take on water rapidly."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused in spelling with the homophone 'whole', which means complete or entire, whereas 'hole' refers to an opening, gap, or empty space.
• Rhymes for hole
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'hol', meaning a hollow place, cave, or perforation, descended from Proto-Germanic '*hulan'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.