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hole

hole

101 2.8
One part of a golf course played from the tee until the ball reaches the cup
  • noun
  • /hoʊl/
: hoyo
  • It went into an extra tiebreaker hole and he won.
  • eighteen holes
  • 18-hole
  • nine holes

Examples

  • By the time we finished our last hole, it was clear that Judy had beaten me soundly.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • This might be the coolest hole I've ever golfed.

  • And to be honest, I can start with hole number six and here we go.

  • Now that should be a very close hole to this pin.

  • Wow, this is one tough hole.

  • Well, then you must visit the hole-in-one room.

  • Up around the eleventh hole, I had a pain in my gut.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Dr. Bob winds up losing two strokes on the hole, and we're tied again.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • One minute I'm on the 14th hole at Winged Foot, lining up a putt.

  • To win the match, he needs to sink the ball into the hole on the green.

Synonyms

golf hole
vshole
1 3.0

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

is the same unit but defined simply as tee to green

Idioms

in the hole
  • Informal
32 8.0

To owe more money than you have

ace in the hole
  • Informal
11 6.1

A hidden advantage you keep until you need it

5 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

hole in the head
  • Informal
1 9.7

A foolish excuse that is clearly not true

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

Compounds

black hole
  • Specialized
123 5.1

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

59 2.3

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

51 5.5

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

rabbit hole
  • Texting
24 6.0

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

15 2.4

A low place in the ground where animals drink water

watering hole
  • Informal
11 3.4

A bar or pub where people meet to drink and talk

9 3.4

A hole in the ground where wild rabbits live and hide

8 3.3

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

8 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

drill hole
  • Specialized
6 4.4

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

6 2.4

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

ozone hole
  • Specialized
5 4.6

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

5 2.7

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

dry hole
  • Jargon
4 7.7

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

hidey-hole
  • Informal
3 7.5

A small secret place to keep things safe or be alone

glory hole
  • Offensive
3 9.9

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

hole card
  • Jargon
2 7.7

A card dealt face down to a player in poker

2 3.4

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

1 2.3

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

1 2.8

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

1 4.9

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

1 3.0

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

sound hole
  • Specialized
1 4.9

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

1 2.8

A hole dug in the ground to hold a fence post

1 8.1

A secret advantage saved to use later

1 3.0

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

1 7.2

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

1 6.5

A small hole that lets gas or air escape

word hole
  • Informal
1 9.9

A confusing, unfocused discussion that goes nowhere

1 8.6

A hole an animal runs into to hide from danger

1 7.1

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

honey hole
  • Informal
1 8.3

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

watering hole
  • Jargon
1 8.6

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

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

1 8.5

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

1 7.4

An opening at the front of something for easy access

drinking hole
  • Informal
1 4.4

A relaxed bar or pub where people meet to drink alcohol

1 9.9

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

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

funk hole
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

1 3.7

A small flat piece used to cover screw holes in furniture

visual hole
  • Jargon
1 7.5

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

hole-in-corner
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Hidden and small, often secret and unimportant

lubber's hole
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

shot hole
  • Specialized
1 8.6

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

glory hole
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small storage locker on a boat used for keeping equipment

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

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

hole-and-corner
  • Archaic
9.3

A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts

Surface Forms

hole singular
holes plural

Etymology

Hole comes from an old German word hol meaning 'hollow', and golfers call the hollow in the ground the hole because the ball must go into that hollow. So each hole on a golf course is one unit of play that ends when the ball drops into that hollow.