hole

1 noun (C)

1 SPACE IN STH SOLID an empty space in something solid

(+ in): We'll just dig a big hole in the ground and bury the box in it.

2 SPACE STH CAN GO THROUGH a space in something that allows things, light etc to get through to the other side; gap (1)

(+ in): The dog got out of the yard through a hole in the fence.

3 ANIMAL'S HOME the home of a small animal: a rabbit hole

4 UNPLEASANT PLACE informal an unpleasant place for living in, working in, etc: I've got to get out of this hole.

5 be in a hole to be in a difficult situation

6 be full of holes an idea or plan that is full of holes can easily be proved wrong or has many faults

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: an hole golf course

8 hole in one an act of hitting the ball in golf from the starting place into the hole with only one hit

9 make a hole in sth informal to use a large part of an amount of money, food etc: The cost of the house repairs made a big hole in my savings.

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

11 hole-and-corner secret or hidden, especially in a dishonest way: hole-and-corner meetings

—see also: black hole, watering hole 2 verb (T)

1 be holed if a ship or boat is holed, it has a hole in it

2 also hole out (I) to hit the ball into the hole in golf

hole up phrasal verb (intransitive always + adv/prep) informal to hide somewhere for a period of time (+ with/in): He escaped on his way to prison and holed up with his girlfriend.