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.
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]
Main Entry: hol·low Pronunciation: 'häl-(")O, -&(-w) Function: noun : a depressed part of a surface or a concavity <the hollow at
the back of the knee>
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [hol-oh] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, noun, verb, adverb 
