- 1[countable] a large deep hole in the ground We dug a deep pit in the yard. The body had been dumped in a pit.
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- 2[countable] (especially in compounds) a deep hole in the ground from which minerals are dug out a chalk/gravel pit
- 3[countable] a small shallow hole in the surface of something, especially a mark left on the surface of the skin by some disease, such as chicken pox see pitted in fruit
- 4[countable] a hard shell containing the nut or seed in the middle of some types of fruit a peach pit in motor racing
- 5the pit [singular] (also the pits [plural]) a place near the track where cars can stop for fuel, new tires, etc. during a race see pit stop in theater
- 6[singular] = orchestra pit part of body
- 7[countable] (informal) = armpit
- 8[countable] the area of a stock exchange where a particular product is traded the corn pit compare floor Idioms
deep hole
to be very bad or the worst example of something
a thing or situation which seems to have no limits or seems never to end There isn't a bottomless pit of money for public spending. the bottomless pit of his sorrow
the bottom of the stomach, where people say they feel strong feelings, especially fear He had a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
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