pit

Universal Words noun, verb noun deep hole 1 [C] a large deep hole in the ground: We dug a deep pit in the yard. * The body had been dumped in a pit. 2 [C] (especially in compounds) a deep hole in the ground from which minerals are dug out: a chalk / gravel pit mine 3 [C] = COALMINE: pit closures * (BrE) He went down the pit (= started work as a miner) when he left school. in skin 4 a small shallow hole in the surface of sth, especially a mark left on the surface of the skin by some disease, such as CHICKENPOX seealsoPITTED in fruit 5 (especially AmE) = STONE(5): a peach pit in motor racing 6 (the pits) [pl.] (BrE) (AmE the pit [C]) a place near the track where cars can stop for fuel, new tyres, etc. during a race seealsoPITSTOP in theatre 7 = ORCHESTRAPIT part of body 8 (AmE, informal) = ARMPIT in business 9 (AmE) the area of a STOCKEXCHANGE where a particular product is traded: the corn pit compareFLOOR(6) seealsoSANDPIT IDIOMS be the pits (informal) to be very bad or the worst example of sth the pit of your / the stomach 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. moreatBOTTOMLESS verb (-tt-) [VN] [usuallypassive] make holes 1 to make marks or holes on the surface of sth: The surface of the moon is pitted with craters. * Smallpox scars had pitted his face. fruit 2 = STONE(2): pitted dates / olives PHRASALVERBS pit sb/sth against sth to test sb or their strength, intelligence, etc. in a struggle or contest against sb/sth else: Lawyers and accountants felt that they were being pitted against each other. * a chance to pit your wits against the world champions (= in a test of your intelligence)