Main Entry: ¹hole

Pronunciation: \ˈhōl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hol (from neuter of hol, adjective, hollow) & holh; akin to Old High German hol, adjective, hollow and perhaps to Old English helan to conceal — more at hell

Date: before 12th century

1 a : an opening through something : perforation <have a hole in my coat> b : an area where something is missing : gap: as (1) : a serious discrepancy : flaw, weakness <some holes in your logic> (2) : an opening in a defensive formation; especially : the area of a baseball field between the positions of shortstop and third baseman (3) : a defect in a crystal (as of a semiconductor) that is due to an electron's having left its normal position in one of the crystal bonds and that is equivalent in many respects to a positively charged particle
2 : a hollowed-out place: as a : a cave, pit, or well in the ground b : burrow c : an unusually deep place in a body of water (as a river)
3 a : a wretched or dreary place b : a prison cell especially for solitary confinement
4 a : a shallow cylindrical hole in the putting green of a golf course into which the ball is played b : a part of the golf course from tee to putting green <just beginning play on the third hole>; also : the play on such a hole as a unit of scoring <won the hole by two strokes>
5 a : an awkward position or circumstance : fix <got the rebels out of a hole at the battle — Kenneth Roberts> b : a position of owing or losing money <$10 million in the hole> <raising money to get out of the hole>

— in the hole 1 : having a score below zero
2 : at a disadvantage