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 particle2: 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 confinement4 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 zero2: at a disadvantage