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swimming hole

swimming hole

7 3.7
A small natural pool in a river or stream where people swim
  • noun
  • /ˈswɪmɪŋ hoʊl/
  • US
translation icon : poza
  • We got to a place where we could jump off a rock into the swimming hole.

Come on guys, let's stop with all the sex and drugs and take the Amtrak down to the swimming hole for some good old fashioned fun.

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Examples

  • Born and raised in La'ie, Au had fond memories of childhood antics taking place at a nearby swimming hole called Beauty Hole.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The swimming hole was small, enclosed on the opposite side by a submerged island covered with a dense reed bed.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I saw you guys down at the swimming hole before.

  • Maybe it's your old swimming hole, general.

  • Remember when you took me to the swimming hole?

  • Come on down to the swimming hole and get it.

  • You said there was a swimming hole around here?

  • Let's go down to the swimming hole.

  • I miss being able to swim at a swimming hole.

    Blog text (13)
  • During the hot summer, we often went to the swimming hole by the creek to cool off.

Synonyms

pool
vsswimming hole
581 1.0

A structure filled with water for people to swim in

is a natural small water spot in streams or rivers suitable for swimming
swimming pool
vsswimming hole
122 1.0

A large place filled with water for people to swim in

is small and natural found in streams or river sections
waterhole
vsswimming hole
4 1.7

A natural pool where wild animals go to drink water

is used for people to swim rather than mainly for animals to drink
kettle hole
vsswimming hole
  • UK
1 8.5

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

is a small natural swimming spot not defined by glacial formation
swimming bath
vsswimming hole
  • Archaic
1.9

An indoor pool for swimming

is outdoors and natural rather than an indoor built facility

How Suitable

lake
793 1.0
swimming hole
  • US
7 3.7
wading pool
  • US
2 2.5

Surface Forms

swimming hole singular

Morphology

swimming + hole

The meaning 'a natural pool suitable for swimming' is directly and compositionally derived from 'swimming' (the activity) + 'hole' (an opening or hollow): a hole for swimming. This noun+noun composition is common across languages and follows transparent semantic combination patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The noun swimming hole comes from the simple image of a deep spot in a river, a hole where people go swimming. So, it means 'a small natural pool or deep part of a stream that is good for swimming'.