hollow
1hol·low
noun \ˈhä-(ˌ)lō\Definition of HOLLOW
2
: a depressed or low part of a surface; especially : a small valley or basin
Examples of HOLLOW
- The owls nested in the hollow of a tree.
- <made a little hollow in her mound of mashed potatoes and filled it with gravy>
Origin of HOLLOW
Middle English holw, holh, from Old English holh hole, hollow — more at hole
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to HOLLOW
- Synonyms
- cavity, concavity, dent, depression, dint, hole, indentation, indenture, pit, recess
- Antonyms
- bulge, camber, convexity, jut, projection, protrusion, protuberance
2hollow
adjectivehol·low·er \ˈhä-lə-wər\ hol·low·est \-lə-wəst\
Definition of HOLLOW
2
: having a cavity within <a hollow tree>
3
: lacking in real value, sincerity, or substance : false, meaningless <hollow promises> <a victory over a weakling is hollow and without triumph — Ernest Beaglehole>
4
: reverberating like a sound made in or by beating on a large empty enclosure : muffled
— hol·low·ly \ˈhä-lō-lē, -lə-lē\ adverb
— hol·low·ness noun
Examples of HOLLOW
- There was a hollow spot in the field.
- <there's a noticeably hollow spot in the mattress where he has been sleeping>
Origin of HOLLOW
Middle English holw, holh, from holh hole
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to HOLLOW
- Antonyms
- bulging, cambered, convex, protruding, protrusive, protuberant
See Synonym Discussion at vain
3hollow
verbDefinition of HOLLOW
transitive verb
1
: to make hollow
2
: to form by a hollowing action —usually used with out <rain barrels hollowed out from trees — Robert Shaplen>
intransitive verb
: to become hollow
Examples of HOLLOW
- They hollowed the log to make a canoe.
First Known Use of HOLLOW
15th century
4hollow
adverbDefinition of HOLLOW
1
: so as to have a hollow sound
2
: completely, thoroughly <an ongoing story that has the old cowboy-and-Indians genre beat hollow — Barbara Bannon> —often used with all
First Known Use of HOLLOW
1601
hol·low
noun \ˈhäl-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of HOLLOW
: a depressed part of a surface or a concavity <the hollow at the back of the knee>
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