pit

noun (1)

\ ˈpit

Definition of pit

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a(1) : a hole, shaft, or cavity in the ground

(2) : mine

(3) : a scooped-out place used for burning something (such as charcoal)

b : an area often sunken or depressed below the adjacent floor area: such as

(1) : an enclosure in which animals are made to fight each other

(2) : a space at the front of a theater for the orchestra

(3) : an area in a securities or commodities exchange in which members trade (such as stocks)

2a : hell sense 1a —used with the

b : a place or situation of futility, misery, or degradation

c pits plural : worst it's the pits

3 : a hollow or indentation especially in the surface of an organism: such as

a : a natural hollow in the surface of the body

b : one of the indented scars left in the skin by a pustular disease : pockmark

c : a minute depression in the secondary wall of a plant cell functioning in the intercellular movement of water and dissolved material

4 : any of the areas alongside an auto racecourse used for refueling and repairing the cars during a race —often used in plural with the

pit

verb (1)

pitted; pitting

Definition of pit (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : to place, cast, bury, or store in a pit

b : to make pits in especially : to scar or mark with pits

2a : to set (fighting birds, such as gamecocks) into or as if into a pit to fight

b : to set into opposition or rivalry —usually used with against

intransitive verb

1 : to become marked with pits especially : to preserve for a time an indentation made by pressure

2 : to make a pit stop

pit

noun (2)

Definition of pit (Entry 3 of 5)

: the stone of a drupaceous fruit

pit

verb (2)

pitted; pitting

Definition of pit (Entry 4 of 5)

transitive verb

: to remove the pit from (a fruit)

Pit

geographical name

\ ˈpit

Definition of Pit (Entry 5 of 5)

river in northern California flowing southwest into the Sacramento River

First Known Use of pit

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1803, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1879, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for pit

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English pytt (akin to Old High German pfuzzi well), from Latin puteus well, pit

Noun (2)

Dutch, from Middle Dutch — more at pith

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More Definitions for pit

pit

noun

\ ˈpit

Kids Definition of pit

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : a cavity or hole in the ground usually made by digging a gravel pit

2 : an area set off from and often sunken below surrounding areas a barbecue pit a theater's orchestra pit

3 : a small hole or dent on a surface

4 pits plural : something very bad Being sick is the pits.

pit

verb

pitted; pitting

Kids Definition of pit (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : to make small holes or dents in

2 : to set against another in a fight or contest The former teammates were pitted against each other.

pit

noun

Kids Definition of pit (Entry 3 of 4)

: a hard seed or stone of a fruit (as a peach or cherry)

pit

verb

pitted; pitting

Kids Definition of pit (Entry 4 of 4)

: to remove the pit from

pit

Definition of pit

First Known Use of pit

History and Etymology for pit

Kids Definition of pit

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