hole
noun
həʊl 
hoʊl hollow space
1 [countable] a hollow space in something solid or in the surface of somethingHe dug a deep hole in the garden.The bomb blew a huge hole in the ground.Water had collected in the holes in the road.opening
2 [countable] a space or opening that goes all the way through somethingto drill/bore/punch/kick a hole in somethingThere were holes in the knees of his trousers.The children climbed through a hole in the fence.a bullet holethe hole in the ozone layer see also ozone holeanimal's home
3 [countable] the home of a small animala rabbit/mouse, etc. hole compare foxhole, pigeonhole see also bolt-holeunpleasant place
4 [countable, usually singular] (informal, disapproving) an unpleasant place to live or be inSynonym
dumpI am not going to bring up my child in this hole. see also hellholein golf
5 [countable] a hollow in the ground that you must get the ball into; one of the sections of a golf course with the tee at the beginning and the hole at the endThe ball rolled into the hole and she had won.an eighteen-hole golf courseHe liked to play a few holes after work.She won the first hole.fault/weakness
6 [countable, usually plural] a fault or weakness in something such as a plan, law or storyHe was found not guilty because of holes in the prosecution case.I don't believe what she says—her story is full of holes. see also loopholeempty place/position
7 [singular] a place or position that needs to be filled because somebody/something is no longer thereAfter his wife left, there was a gaping hole in his life.Buying the new equipment left a big hole in the company's finances.Help
There are many other compounds ending in hole. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.Idioms
in a hole
(informal) in a difficult situationHe had got himself into a hole and it was going to be difficult to get out of it.in the hole
(North American English, informal) owing moneySynonym
in debtWe start the current fiscal year $30 million in the hole.make a hole in something
to use up a large amount of something that you have, especially money
School fees can make a big hole in your savings.