Definition of hole
1 a
: an opening through something : perforation
- The coat has a hole in it.
- a bullet hole
b
: an area where something is missing
- His mother's death left a hole in his life.
(2)
: an opening in a defensive formation
- a running back's ability to find holes in the defensive line
(3)
: a defect in a crystal (as of a semiconductor) that is due to an electron's having left its normal position in one of the crystal bonds and that is equivalent in many respects to a positively charged particle
2
: a hollowed-out place
- a hole in an apple
a
: a cave, pit, or well in the ground
- dug a large hole with a steam shovel
b
: burrow
- a rabbit hole
c
: an unusually deep place in a body of water (such as a river)
3 a
: a wretched or dreary place
- How could anyone live in such a hole?
b
: a prison cell especially for solitary confinement
- threw him in the hole for two days
4 a
golf
: a shallow cylindrical hole or hollowed-out place in the putting green of a golf course into which the ball is played
b
: a part of the golf course from tee (see 2tee 2) to putting green
- just beginning play on the third hole
- won the hole by two strokes
5 a
: an awkward position or circumstance : fix
- got the rebels out of a hole at the battle
- —Kenneth Roberts
b
: a position of owing or losing money
- $10 million in the hole
- raising money to get out of the hole
—
in the hole
1
: having a score below zero
2
: at a disadvantage
