hollow

[ hol-oh ]

/ ˈhɒl oʊ /

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty: a hollow sphere.

having a depression or concavity: a hollow surface.

sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.

(of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep: a hollow voice.

without real or significant worth; meaningless: a hollow victory.

insincere or false: hollow compliments.

hungry; having an empty feeling: I feel absolutely hollow, so let's eat.

noun

an empty space within anything; a hole, depression, or cavity.

a valley: They took the sheep to graze in the hollow.

Foundry. a concavity connecting two surfaces otherwise intersecting at an obtuse angle.

verb (used with object)

to make hollow (often followed by out): to hollow out a log.

to form by making something hollow (often followed by out): to hollow a place in the sand; boats hollowed out of logs.

verb (used without object)

to become hollow.

adverb

in a hollow manner: The politician's accusations rang hollow.

Idioms for hollow

beat all hollow, to surpass or outdo completely: His performance beat the others all hollow. Also beat hollow.

Origin of hollow

before 900; Middle English holw(e), holow, Old English holh a hollow place; akin to hole

SYNONYMS FOR hollow

5 vain, empty, futile, pointless.

OTHER WORDS FROM hollow

hol·low·ly, adverb hol·low·ness, noun half-hol·low, adjective un·hol·low, adjective

un·hol·lowed, adjective

Words nearby hollow

holliger, hollingshead, hollister, holliston, hollo, hollow, hollow back, hollow bone, hollow leg, hollow newel, hollow sea

British Dictionary definitions for beat hollow

hollow

/ (ˈhɒləʊ) /

adjective

having a hole, cavity, or space within; not solid

having a sunken area; concave

recessed or deeply set hollow cheeks

(of sounds) as if resounding in a hollow place

without substance or validity

hungry or empty

insincere; cynical

a hollow leg or hollow legs the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects

adverb

beat someone hollow British informal to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly

noun

a cavity, opening, or space in or within something

a depression or dip in the land

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

to make or become hollow

to form (a hole, cavity, etc) or (of a hole, etc) to be formed

Derived forms of hollow

hollowly, adverb hollowness, noun

Word Origin for hollow

C12: from holu, inflected form of Old English holh cave; related to Old Norse holr, German hohl; see hole

Idioms and Phrases with beat hollow (1 of 2)

beat hollow

see under beat the pants off.

Idioms and Phrases with beat hollow (2 of 2)

hollow

see beat the pants off (hollow).

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

hollow

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adverb

Idioms for hollow

Origin of hollow

SYNONYMS FOR hollow

OTHER WORDS FROM hollow

Words nearby hollow

British Dictionary definitions for beat hollow

adjective

adverb

noun

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

Derived forms of hollow

Word Origin for hollow

Idioms and Phrases with beat hollow (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with beat hollow (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

hollow

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adverb

Idioms for hollow

Origin of hollow

SYNONYMS FOR hollow

OTHER WORDS FROM hollow

Words nearby hollow

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for beat hollow

adjective

adverb

noun

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

Derived forms of hollow

Word Origin for hollow

Idioms and Phrases with beat hollow (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with beat hollow (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for beat hollow