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hollow
13 dictionary results for: Hollow
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
hol·low       [hol-oh] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, noun, verb, adverb
–adjective
1.having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty: a hollow sphere.
2.having a depression or concavity: a hollow surface.
3.sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.
4.(of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep: a hollow voice.
5.without real or significant worth; meaningless: a hollow victory.
6.insincere or false: hollow compliments.
7.hungry; having an empty feeling: I feel absolutely hollow, so let's eat.
–noun
8.an empty space within anything; a hole, depression, or cavity.
9.a valley: They took the sheep to graze in the hollow.
10.Foundry. a concavity connecting two surfaces otherwise intersecting at an obtuse angle.
–verb (used with object)
11.to make hollow (often fol. by out): to hollow out a log.
12.to form by making something hollow (often fol. by out): to hollow a place in the sand; boats hollowed out of logs.
–verb (used without object)
13.to become hollow.
–adverb
14.in a hollow manner: The politician's accusations rang hollow.
—Idiom
15.beat all hollow, to surpass or outdo completely: His performance beat the others all hollow. Also, beat hollow.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME holw(e), holow, OE holh a hollow place; akin to hole]

—Related forms
hol·low·ly, adverb
hol·low·ness, noun

—Synonyms 5. vain, empty, futile, pointless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
hol·low       (hŏl'ō)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.   hol·low·er, hol·low·est
  1. Having a cavity, gap, or space within: a hollow wall.
  2. Deeply indented or concave; sunken: "His bearded face already has a set, hollow look" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
  3. Without substance or character: a hollow person. See Synonyms at vain.
  4. Devoid of truth or validity; specious: "Theirs is at best a hollow form of flattery" (Annalyn Swan).
  5. Having a reverberating, sepulchral sound: hollow footsteps.

n.  
  1. A cavity, gap, or space: a hollow behind a wall.
  2. An indented or concave surface or area.
  3. A void; an emptiness: a hollow in one's life.
  4. A small valley between mountains.

v.   hol·lowed, hol·low·ing, hol·lows

v.   tr.
  1. To make hollow: hollow out a pumpkin.
  2. To scoop or form by making concave: hollow out a nest in the sand.

v.   intr.
To become hollow or empty.


[Middle English holwe, holowe, from holgh, hole, burrow (influenced by hole, hollow), from Old English holh; see kel-1 in Indo-European roots.]

hol'low·ly adv., hol'low·ness n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
hollow  (adj.)
O.E. holh (n.) "hollow place, hole," from P.Gmc. *holhwo-, related to hol "hole" (see hole). The noun sense of "lowland, valley, basin" is 1553. The verb is from M.E. holowen. The figurative sense of "insincere" is attested from 1529. To carry it hollow "take it completely" is first recorded 1668, of unknown origin or connection.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
hollow

adjective
1. not solid; having a space or gap or cavity; "a hollow wall"; "a hollow tree"; "hollow cheeks"; "his face became gaunter and more hollow with each year" [ant: solid] 
2. as if echoing in a hollow space; "the hollow sound of footsteps in the empty ballroom" 
3. devoid of significance or point; "empty promises"; "a hollow victory"; "vacuous comments" [syn: empty] 

noun
1. a cavity or space in something; "hunger had caused the hollows in their cheeks" 
2. a small valley between mountains; "he built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Appalachians" 
3. a depression hollowed out of solid matter [syn: hole] 

verb
1. remove the inner part or the core of; "the mining company wants to excavate the hillside" [syn: excavate] 
2. remove the interior of; "hollow out a tree trunk" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

hollow

see beat the pants off (hollow).


The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Hollow Rock, TN (town, FIPS 35280) Location: 36.03518 N, 88.27263 W
Population (1990): 902 (397 housing units)
Area: 4.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 38342

Hollow Creek, KY (city, FIPS 37576) Location: 38.15150 N, 85.62527 W
Population (1990): 991 (339 housing units)
Area: 0.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Coeymans Hollow, NY Zip code(s): 12046

Preston Hollow, NY Zip code(s): 12469

Wide Hollow, WA Zip code(s): 98908

Hunters Hollow, KY (city, FIPS 38670) Location: 38.07718 N, 85.69138 W
Population (1990): 286 (76 housing units)
Area: 0.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Laurel Hollow, NY (village, FIPS 41487) Location: 40.85730 N, 73.47782 W
Population (1990): 1748 (567 housing units)
Area: 7.6 sq km (land), 0.4 sq km (water)

Sleepy Hollow, IL (village, FIPS 70161) Location: 42.09345 N, 88.31416 W
Population (1990): 3241 (1064 housing units)
Area: 4.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Sleepy Hollow, WY (CDP, FIPS 71350) Location: 44.24102 N, 105.42156 W
Population (1990): 1194 (349 housing units)
Area: 12.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Hollow

Hol"low\, a. [OE. holow, holgh, holf, AS. holh a hollow, hole. Cf. Hole.]

1. Having an empty space or cavity, natural or artificial, within a solid substance; not solid; excavated in the interior; as, a hollow tree; a hollow sphere.

Hollow with boards shalt thou make it. --Ex. xxvii. 8.

2. Depressed; concave; gaunt; sunken.

With hollow eye and wrinkled brow. --Shak.

3. Reverberated from a cavity, or resembling such a sound; deep; muffled; as, a hollow roar. --Dryden.

4. Not sincere or faithful; false; deceitful; not sound; as, a hollow heart; a hollow friend. --Milton.

Hollow newel (Arch.), an opening in the center of a winding staircase in place of a newel post, the stairs being supported by the wall; an open newel; also, the stringpiece or rail winding around the well of such a staircase.

Hollow quoin (Engin.), a pier of stone or brick made behind the lock gates of a canal, and containing a hollow or recess to receive the ends of the gates.

Hollow root. (Bot.) See Moschatel.

Hollow square. See Square.

Hollow ware, hollow vessels; -- a trade name for cast-iron kitchen utensils, earthenware, etc.

Syn: Syn.- Concave; sunken; low; vacant; empty; void; false; faithless; deceitful; treacherous.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Hollow

Hol"low\, n. 1. A cavity, natural or artificial; an unfilled space within anything; a hole, a cavern; an excavation; as the hollow of the hand or of a tree.

2. A low spot surrounded by elevations; a depressed part of a surface; a concavity; a channel.

Forests grew Upon the barren hollows. --Prior.

I hate the dreadful hollow behind the little wood. --Tennyson.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Hollow

Hol"low\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hollowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Hollowing.] To make hollow, as by digging, cutting, or engraving; to excavate. "Trees rudely hollowed." --Dryden.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Hollow

Hol"low\, adv. Wholly; completely; utterly; -- chiefly after the verb to beat, and often with all; as, this story beats the other all hollow. See All, adv. [Collog.]

The more civilized so-called Caucasian races have beaten the Turks hollow in the struggle for existence. --Darwin.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Hollow

Hol*low"\, interj. [See Hollo.] Hollo.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Hollow

Hol"low\, v. i. To shout; to hollo.

Whisperings and hollowings are alike to a deaf ear. --Fuller.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Hollow

Hol"low\, v. t. To urge or call by shouting.

He has hollowed the hounds. --Sir W. Scott.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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