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hollowness

 - 3 dictionary results

hol⋅low

  [hol-oh] adjective, -er, -est, noun, verb, adverb
Use hollowness in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hollowness
hol·low   (hŏl'ō)   
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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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