pit
pit Lexical Profile
pit Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large hole, cavity, or excavation in the ground, either natural or dug to extract minerals.
"Archaeologists uncovered ancient pottery shards at the bottom of a deep storage pit."
North American The hard, woody stone or endocarp found at the center of certain fleshy fruits, such as a peach, plum, cherry, or olive, which encloses the seed.
"Be careful not to bite down on the hard pit inside the fresh cherry."
A sunken or enclosed area created for a specific activity, such as the recessed space for an orchestra in front of a theater stage or the servicing lane alongside a racetrack.
"The conductor stepped down into the orchestra pit just before the house lights dimmed."
A small indentation, scar, or pockmark left on a surface or on the skin, such as from corrosion or disease.
"Years of exposure to salt water had left tiny rust pits across the metal hull."
• verb
To set someone or something in direct competition, conflict, or comparison against another.
"The championship tournament pits the defending titleholder against a rising young challenger."
North American To remove the hard stone or seed from the center of a fleshy fruit.
"She spent the afternoon washing and pitting two pounds of cherries for the pie."
To mark or scar a surface with small hollows, indentations, or pockmarks.
"Acid rain had gradually pitted the limestone facade of the historic cathedral."
To drive a racing vehicle into the servicing lane for refueling, new tires, or mechanical repairs during a race.
"The lead driver decided to pit early when light rain began falling on the track."
• Rhymes for pit
Word Origin & Etymology
The sense of a hole or cavity comes from Old English 'pytt', an early Germanic borrowing from Latin 'puteus' meaning 'well' or 'shaft'. The fruit-stone sense was borrowed into American English from Dutch 'pit' meaning 'kernel' or 'pith'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.