pit

Pluralpits

Formspits, pitting, pitted

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A large, deep hole in the ground, either dug by people or formed naturally.

   Like a big hole you dig in the sand at the beach.

   They dug a deep pit to bury the garden waste.

   The dog fell into a pit hidden in the long grass.

   Similarhole, excavation

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To make people or animals fight or compete against each other.

   Like putting two boxers in the ring to fight.

   The contest pits two teams against each other for the trophy.

   The coach likes to pit his two fastest runners against each other in practice.

   UsageSay pit one team against another.

   Similarset, match

3. 3
   fruit stonenouncountable

   The hard seed in the middle of some fruits, like a peach or cherry.

   Like the hard center inside a cherry that you can't eat.

   She bit into the cherry and nearly cracked a tooth on the pit.

   Spit the pit out before you eat the rest of the plum.

   UsageAmericans usually say pit. British speakers usually say stone.

   Similarstone

4. 4
   repair area (racing)nouncountable

   The area beside a race track where cars stop for fuel and repairs.

   Like pulling over at a gas station to fill up and fix a flat tire.

   The driver pulled into the pit for fresh tires.

   Mechanics waited in the pit with the fuel ready.

   UsageOften the pits: the car goes into the pits.

5. 5
   minenouncountable

   A mine, especially a coal mine dug into the ground.

   Like a deep hole where workers dig coal out of the ground.

   His grandfather worked in the coal pit for forty years.

   The old pit closed once the coal ran out.

   UsageSay work down the pit.

   Similarmine, colliery

6. 6
   nouncountable

   A small hole or dent in a surface, including a small scar left on the skin by a spot or disease.

   Like a small dent in an apple where it got bumped.

   Water dripped into a small pit in the stone step.

   The hammer left a pit in the soft metal sheet.

   Similardent, pockmark, hollow, depression, dimple

   Note
7. 7
   dog breednouncolloquialcountable

   A muscular, short-haired dog of the pit bull terrier type.

   Their pit is friendly despite its tough looks.

   She adopted a rescued pit from the local shelter.

   Similarpittie

   Note
8. 8
   take out stonesverbtransitive

   To take the hard seed out of a fruit like a cherry or plum.

   Like taking the hard middle out of a cherry before you eat it.

   You need to pit the cherries before you bake the pie.

   She pits the olives by hand for the salad.

   UsagePitted olives have no stones.

   Similarstone, seed

9. 9
   under the armnouncolloquialcountable

   The hollow under your arm where it meets your body.

   Like the warm pocket under your arm.

   He raised his arm and I saw the sweat in his pit.

   My pits get sweaty when I run in the heat.

   UsageShort for armpit.

   Similararmpit, underarm

10. 10
    pull in (racing)verbintransitive

    To drive back into the repair area during a race for fuel or new tires.

    Like pulling into a gas station to fill up before driving on.

    The driver decided to pit early because of a slow leak.

    Most teams pit twice during a long race.

    UsageA driver pits for new tires.

    Note
11. 11
    mark with dentsverbtransitive

    To make small holes or dents in a surface.

    Acid can pit the metal if you leave it too long.

    Rust pitted the old car door over the years.

    UsageMostly pitted: pitted metal has small holes.

    Similarpock, dent, scar

12. 12
    dark moodnounfigurativelycountable

    A dark, hopeless mood that feels hard to escape.

    Like being stuck at the bottom of a deep hole you can't climb out of.

    After the breakup, he sank into a deep pit of sadness.

    It took months for her to climb out of that dark pit.

    UsageSay a pit of despair.

    Similarabyss, hole, slough

13. 13
    slam dancingnounslangcountable

    The area near a stage where fans push and slam into each other while dancing.

    Like a rough crowd where everyone bumps and pushes to the music.

    She lost a shoe in the pit during the show.

    Fans crowd into the pit the moment the band starts playing.

    Note
14. 14
    dirty placenouncolloquialcountable

    A dirty, messy, or very unpleasant place.

    Like a messy room you never want to clean.

    His bedroom is a total pit by the end of the week.

    That old roadside motel was a real pit.

    Similardump, hole, pigsty, dive, hovel

15. 15
    hellnoun

    The grave, the world of the dead, or hell.

    The preacher warned that sinners would be cast into the pit.

    They feared their souls would sink down into the pit forever.

    Similarhell, underworld, abyss, inferno

    Oppositeheaven, paradise

    Note
16. 16
    theater floornouncountable

    In older theaters, the seats on the ground floor near the stage, or the people sitting there.

    In old theaters, the cheapest seats were down in the pit.

    The crowd in the pit cheered loudly for the actors.

    Note
17. 17
    nounslangplural

    Something that is really bad, as bad as it can be.

    The food at that summer camp was the pits.

    Losing the big game on the very last shot was the pits.

    UsageSay it was the pits.

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