pit

pit · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large hole in the ground, either natural or man-made.

  2. 2.

    The hard stone or seed inside certain fruits.

  3. 3.

    (informal) The armpit.

  4. 4.

    An area in a workshop for vehicle maintenance, below floor level.

  5. 5.

    (verb) To set someone or something in opposition or competition.

Forms

plural: pits

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    pit stop — A brief stop during a journey; originally from motorsports
  • •
    the pits — (informal) The worst possible situation or thing
  • •
    pit of one's stomach — Deep within one's abdomen; used to describe intense feelings
  • •
    bottomless pit — Something that consumes resources endlessly

Related words

Antonyms: mound, peak
See also: crater, hole, pits, seed
Synonyms: cavity, crater, hole, seed, stone

Etymology

From Old English pytt ("pit, hole, well"), from Latin puteus ("well, shaft, pit"). The fruit seed meaning is American English from the early 19th century, from Dutch pit ("kernel, core").