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beat hollow

 - 4 dictionary results

hol⋅low

[hol-oh] 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.
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


hol⋅low⋅ly, adverb
hol⋅low⋅ness, noun


5. vain, empty, futile, pointless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: hol·low
Pronunciation: 'häl-(")O, -&(-w)
Function: noun
: a depressed part of a surface or a concavity hollow atthe back of the knee>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

beat hollow

see under beat the pants off.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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