Skip to main content
to hole

to hole

6 6.4
To make an opening in something by cutting or piercing
  • verb
  • /hoʊl/
translation icon : perforar
  • Now we drill a hole in there.

Examples

  • You know, they figured out how to drill a hole in the ice and fish.

  • OK, what if I like poke a hole here so that all the water spills out?

  • Oh, you want some to punch a hole right through?

  • I'll make a hole in it to mount it to all right.

  • And then we're going to punch a little hole in that tube.

  • We're going to pre drill a hole in the red to tap into.

  • Now I just need to drill a hole so we can attach the clamp.

  • But I've also cut a hole in the shoebox.

  • "I need to hole this board so I can attach the shelf brackets securely."

  • "To create a vent, you should hole the metal sheet carefully with a drill."

Synonyms

to drill
vsto hole
170 2.2

To make a hole by using a tool that turns

is the broader action of creating openings by any method
to punch
vsto hole
136 1.8

To make a hole in paper or leather with a small tool

is broader, including gentler cutting or piercing methods as well
to pierce
vsto hole
110 3.5

To make a hole in something with a sharp object like a needle

is broader, including many ways of creating openings or damage
to slit
vsto hole
100 2.8

To make a long narrow cut in something

is general creation of openings and not limited to long narrow cuts
to breach
vsto hole
67 4.2

To make an opening in a wall or barrier

applies to making openings in any material, not only barriers or defences
to puncture
vsto hole
50 3.9

To make a small hole in something with a sharp object that lets air or liquid escape

is the wider act of creating openings, not only leaking ones
to prick
vsto hole
14 3.9

To make a small hole in something with a sharp point

includes creating larger or different shaped openings, not only tiny ones
to perforate
vsto hole
12 6.1

Make a hole through something by piercing it

is the general act of making openings by piercing cutting or damaging material
to stave
vsto hole
6 8.5

To break a hole in an object by hitting or crushing it

includes making openings by cutting piercing or gentler damage methods
to gouge out
vsto hole
5 7.4

To make a deep cut or groove in a surface by scraping

is about making openings generally rather than deep carved grooves
to pierce through
vsto hole
3 4.4

Move into and through something by making a hole or gap

covers making openings without requiring full penetration
to riddle
vsto hole
2 8.0

To make many holes in something often with bullets

focuses on single or few openings made by various actions, not many
to crater
vsto hole
2 4.7

To make a large bowl-shaped hole in the ground, for example by an impact or explosion

is general opening creation and not limited to large impact results
to perf
vsto hole
  • Informal
1 9.9

To make a row of small holes so paper tears easily

is general opening creation and not limited to tear lines or informality
to bore
vsto hole
1 4.9

To make a hole in something with a tool or with animal teeth

covers creating openings by cutting piercing or other damaging actions
to gap
vsto hole
1 5.5

To make an opening or break in something

focuses on making openings by piercing cutting or damaging material generally
to prickle
vsto hole
4.4

Make a small hole in something with a sharp point

is the general process of creating openings by various methods
to predrill
vsto hole
  • Specialized
5.1

To make a hole before putting in a screw or bolt

is general opening creation without the preparatory purpose
to trench
vsto hole
6.5

To cut deep into a surface to make patterns or letters

is simpler creation of openings rather than deep surface carving
to stave in
vsto hole
7.7

To break a hole in something and make part cave in

is broader, covering openings made without smashing or collapse
to thurl
vsto hole
  • Archaic
9.9

To make a hole through something with a tool

is the neutral modern description of creating openings by various methods

Antonyms

1.0

To make a place full by putting people or things into it

Idioms

in the hole
  • Informal
12 8.0

To owe more money than you have

ace in the hole
  • Informal
9 6.1

A hidden advantage you keep until you need it

6 8.9

A shouted warning that a blast or sudden danger is about to happen

Money makes someone want to spend it quickly

A person who does not fit into a job or group

To cause problems for yourself because of your actions

Not helpful and not wanted in any situation

To do something very foolish and not needed

hole in the head
  • Informal
9.7

A foolish excuse that is clearly not true

Phrasal Verbs

to hole up
  • Informal
63 6.8

To stay in a safe place and avoid going out, often to hide

To drop into a hole by accident

1 7.3

An animal taking shelter in a safe place to sleep through winter

1 7.0

To hit a golf ball into the hole to finish the play

To get out of a difficult situation after mistakes or bad luck

Compounds

black hole
  • Specialized
162 5.1

An area of space with gravity so strong that not even light can escape it

57 2.3

A hole in a wall, window, or piece of clothing made by a bullet

17 5.5

A thing, like a failing project, that uses a lot of time or money and gives nothing back

watering hole
  • Informal
16 3.4

A bar or pub where people meet to drink and talk

9 3.3

A golf shot that gets the ball into the hole with one hit

rabbit hole
  • Texting
9 6.0

A long series of online links or pages that makes you lose track of time

9 2.4

A low place in the ground where animals drink water

7 3.7

A small natural pool in a river or stream where people swim

A small hidden restaurant or cafe that looks simple but serves very good food

ozone hole
  • Specialized
4 4.6

A thin area high above the Earth near the poles where a protective gas becomes very low

drill hole
  • Specialized
3 4.4

A hole made with a drill to take samples or put instruments into rock

dry hole
  • Jargon
3 7.7

An attempt that has no result, like a well that finds no oil

3 2.7

A golf shot that puts the ball in the hole from the tee in one hit

hidey-hole
  • Informal
1 7.5

A small secret place to keep things safe or be alone

1 2.3

A small hole left in wood or a wall after you remove a nail

1 3.4

A hole in the ground made by a gopher that leads to its home

hole card
  • Jargon
1 7.7

A card dealt face down to a player in poker

1 3.4

A hole in the ground where wild rabbits live and hide

1 2.8

A hole dug in the ground to hold a fence post

1 2.4

A small hole that lets air move through for breathing or ventilation

1 2.8

A hole for a finger that helps you hold or move something

1 8.5

A hollow in the ground that forms when buried ice melts and is often filled with water

1 3.0

The area on a golf course played from the tee to the cup

A tool with two blades for digging deep narrow holes to put posts in

1 7.2

A dish of sausages baked in a soft batter like Yorkshire pudding

shot hole
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A hole that workers drill in rock or earth to hold explosives for blasting

1 7.1

An opening in a roof or wall that lets smoke from a fire escape

sound hole
  • Specialized
1 4.9

An opening in the top of an instrument with strings, like a guitar, that makes its sound louder

watering hole
  • Jargon
1 8.6

A website that attackers secretly change to infect visitors' computers or steal passwords

A small prison cell in Fort William, Calcutta, where many British prisoners died overnight in 1756

8.6

A hole an animal runs into to hide from danger

A small opening you look through to watch without being seen

dookie hole
  • Offensive
9.9

A very dirty, unpleasant place, often a public toilet

drinking hole
  • Informal
4.4

A relaxed bar or pub where people meet to drink alcohol

3.0

An opening in a helmet or other head covering that lets sound reach your ear

6.5

A sudden area of falling air that makes a plane drop

5.4

A bar or pub that people visit often and like

finger hole
  • Specialized
4.8

A hole on a wind instrument like a flute covered or uncovered by your finger to change the note

funk hole
  • Archaic
9.9

A small underground shelter where people hide to stay safe during danger

An opening at the front of something for easy access

lubber's hole
  • Archaic
9.9

A hole in the mast platform that lets a sailor climb through from inside the rigging

An opening in clothing or a mask that lets you breathe and speak

glory hole
  • Archaic
9.9

A small storage locker on a boat used for keeping equipment

glory hole
  • Offensive
9.9

A hole in a wall used for sexual contact without seeing the other person

8.1

A secret advantage saved to use later

3.7

A small flat piece used to cover screw holes in furniture

hole-and-corner
  • Archaic
9.3

A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts

hole-in-corner
  • Archaic
9.9

Hidden and small, often secret and unimportant

honey hole
  • Informal
8.3

A place where many good things are found, often a favorite fishing spot

9.9

A hole in the ground where water goes underground into caves, often in limestone

6.5

A small hole that lets gas or air escape

visual hole
  • Jargon
7.5

An empty area in a design that distracts the viewer from the main message

word hole
  • Informal
9.9

A confusing, unfocused discussion that goes nowhere

How Big

gouge
4 7.0
to rip
646 1.7
to bore
1 4.9
to hole
6 6.4
to pierce
110 3.5
to puncture
50 3.9
to nick
33 3.5

Surface Forms

hole infinitive
holed past
holed past participle
holing present participle
holes third person singular

Etymology

The verb hole comes from the same old German hol meaning 'hollow', and it means to make an opening or make something hollow. So to hole a roof or a piece of cloth is to put holes in it.