hole 1 S1 W2 / həʊl $ hoʊl / 名词 [可数名词]

1 space in something solid an empty space in something solid

hole in

There was a huge hole in the road.

I began digging a hole for the plant. ► Do not say there is a hole ‘on’ something. Say there is a hole in something.

2 space something can go through a space in something solid that allows light or things to pass through

hole in

They climbed through a hole in the fence.

These socks are full of holes .

bullet holes (= made by bullets )

3 empty place a place where someone or something should be, but is missing

hole in

Their departure will leave a gaping hole in Grand Prix racing.

4 weak part a weak part or fault in something such as an idea or plan :

The theory is full of holes .

hole in

If you have holes in your game, work on them.

5 animal’s home the home of a small animal :

a rabbit hole

6 unpleasant place informal an unpleasant place :

I’ve got to get out of this hole.

7 golf

a) a hole in the ground that you try to get the ball into in the game of golf

b) one part of a golf course with this kind of hole at one end

8 hole in one when someone hits the ball in golf from the starting place into the hole with only one hit

9 make a hole in something informal to use a large part of an amount of money, food etc :

Holidays can make a big hole in your savings.

10 be in a hole informal to be in a difficult situation

11 be in the hole American English spoken to owe money :

I was something like $16,000 in the hole already.

12 need/want something like a hole in the head spoken used to say that you definitely do not need or want something :

I need this conversation like a hole in the head.

→ ace in the hole at ace 1 ( 7 ) , → black hole , → square peg in a round hole at square 1 ( 12 ) , → watering hole

THESAURUS

hole an empty space in the surface of something, which sometimes goes all the way through it : A fox had dug a hole under our fence. | Rain was coming in through a hole in the roof.

space an empty area between two things, into which you can put something : Are there any empty spaces on the bookshelf? | a parking space

gap an empty area between two things or two parts of something, especially one that should not be there : He has a gap between his two front teeth. | I squeezed through a gap in the hedge.

opening a hole that something can pass through or that you can see through, especially at the entrance of something : The train disappeared into the dark opening of the tunnel. | I looked through the narrow opening in the wall.

leak a small hole where something has been damaged or broken that lets liquid or gas flow in or out : a leak in the pipe | The plumber’s coming to repair the leak.

puncture especially British English a small hole in a tyre through which air escapes : My bike’s got a puncture.

crack a very narrow space between two things or two parts of something : The snake slid into a crack in the rock. | She was peering through the crack in the curtains.

slot a straight narrow hole that you put a particular type of object into : You have to put a coin in the slot before you dial the number. | A small disk fits into a slot in the camera.

crater a round hole in the ground made by an explosion or by a large object hitting it hard : a volcanic crater | The meteor left a crater over five miles wide. | the craters on the moon

to make a hole in something

make a hole in something to cause a hole to appear in something : Make a hole in the bottom of the can using a hammer and nail.

pierce to make a small hole in or through something, using a pointed object : The dog’s teeth had pierced her skin. | Shelley wanted to have her ears pierced (= for earrings ) .

prick to make a very small hole in the surface of something, using a pointed object : Prick the potatoes before baking them. | My finger was bleeding where the needle had pricked it.

punch to make a hole through paper or flat material using a metal tool or other sharp object : I bought one of those things for punching holes in paper. | You have to get your ticket punched before you get on the train.

puncture to make a small hole in something, especially something where skin or a wall surrounds a softer or hollow inside part : The bullet had punctured his lung.

perforate formal to make a hole or holes in something : Fragments of the bullet had perforated his intestines.

drill to make a hole using a special tool, often one which turns round and round very quickly : The dentist started drilling a hole in my tooth. | They won a contract to drill for oil in the area.

bore to make a deep round hole through a rock, into the ground etc : They had to bore through solid rock. | The men were boring a hole for the tunnel.