hollow

Universal Words adjective, noun, verb adjective 1 having a hole or empty space inside: a hollow ball / centre / tube * The tree trunk was hollow inside. * Her stomach felt hollow with fear. 2 (of parts of the face) sinking deeply into the face: hollow eyes / cheeks * hollow-eyed from lack of sleep 3 [usuallybeforenoun] (of sounds) making a low sound like that made by an empty object when it is hit: a hollow groan / echo 4 [usuallybeforenoun] not sincere: hollow promises / threats * a hollow laugh / voice * Their appeals for an end to the violence had a hollow ring. * His promise rang hollow. 5 [usuallybeforenoun] without real value: to win a hollow victory * The statistics show that it was no hollow warning. hollowly adverb: to laugh / echo hollowly hollowness noun [U]: the hollowness of success / victory IDIOMS see RINGv. noun 1 an area that is lower than the surface around it, especially on the ground: muddy hollows * The wheelbarrow got stuck in a hollow. * The village lay secluded in a hollow of the hills (= a small valley). * She noticed the slight hollows under his cheekbones. 2 a hole or an enclosed space in sth: The squirrel disappeared into a hollow at the base of the tree. verb [VN] [usuallypassive] to make a flat surface curve inwards: The stairs have been hollowed by centuries of use. PHRASALVERBS hollow sth<->out 1 to make a hole in sth by removing part of it: Hollow out the cake and fill it with cream. * a gun concealed in a hollowed-out book 2 to form sth by making a hole in sth else: The cave has been hollowed out of the mountainside.