gouge

Universal Words verb, noun verb [VN] 1 ~ sth (in sth) to make a hole or cut in sth with a sharp object in a rough or violent way: The lion's claws had gouged a wound in the horse's side. * He had gouged her cheek with a screwdriver. 2 (AmE) to force sb to pay an unfairly high price for sth; to raise prices unfairly: Housing shortages permit landlords to gouge their renters. * Price gouging is widespread. PHRASALVERBS gouge sth<->out (of sth) to remove or form sth by digging into a surface: The man's eyes had been gouged out. * Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. noun 1 a sharp tool for making hollow areas in wood 2 a deep, narrow hole or cut in a surface: The massive wheels were digging great gouges in the road's surface.