(~s, holing, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a hollow space in something solid, with an opening on one side.
He took a shovel, dug a ~, and buried his once-prized possessions...
...a 60ft ~.
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ is an opening in something that goes right through it.
These tiresome creatures eat ~s in the leaves...
...kids with ~s in the knees of their jeans.
N-COUNT: oft N in n
3.
A ~ is the home or hiding place of a mouse, rabbit, or other small animal.
...a rabbit ~.
N-COUNT
4.
A ~ in a law, theory, or argument is a fault or weakness that it has.
There were some ~s in that theory, some unanswered questions.
N-COUNT: oft N in n
5.
A ~ is also one of the nine or eighteen sections of a golf course.
I played nine ~s with Gary Player today.
N-COUNT
6.
A ~ is one of the places on a golf course that the ball must drop into, usually marked by a flag.
N-COUNT
7.
If you say that you need something or someone like a ~ in the head, you are emphasizing that you do not want them and that they would only add to the problems that you already have. (INFORMAL)
We need more folk heroes like we need a ~ in the head.
PHRASE: V inflects emphasis
8.
If you say that you are in a ~, you mean that you are in a difficult or embarrassing situation. (INFORMAL)
He admitted that the government was in ‘a dreadful ~’.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
9.
If you get a ~ in one in golf, you get the golf ball into the ~ with a single stroke.
PHRASE: usu v PHR
10.
If you pick ~s in an argument or theory, you find weak points in it so that it is no longer valid. (INFORMAL)
He then goes on to pick ~s in the article before reaching his conclusion.
PHRASE: V inflects