pinhole

noun

pin·​hole ˈpin-ˌhōl How to pronounce pinhole (audio)
: a small hole made by, for, or as if by a pin

Examples of pinhole in a Sentence

The water was leaking through a pinhole in the pipe. pinholes in a bedsheet will look like stars if you shine a light from behind it
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On versions of the Luna, inspired by the phases of the moon, and the Song bucket bag were the work of Fu Xiaotong, whose practice centers around pinhole work and sculpture inspired by traditional Chinese ink painting. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025 The remote also has a pinhole microphone near the top for voice control, as well as dedicated service buttons for Amazon Alexa, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, LG Channels, Netflix, and Sling. PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025 This is what the round red pinhole is for—simply hold it up to one of your eyes and look through it, scanning the room for a glowing red light. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025 One day while driving, my vision began to shrink, like the end of a movie when the camera reduces to a pinhole. Lisa K. Friedman, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pinhole

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinhole was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pinhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinhole. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pinhole

noun
pin·​hole -ˌhōl How to pronounce pinhole (audio)
: a very small hole made by or as if by a pin
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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