Meaning of hollow in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Noun
    1. Definitions
  5. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈhɑloʊ/

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  1. Verb

    hollow

    Definitions

    1. remove the inner part or the core of

    Examples

    • « the mining company wants to excavate the hillsite »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. remove the interior of

    Examples

    • « hollow out a tree trunk »

    Derived terms

  3. Classifying Adjective

    hollow

    Definitions

    1. deliberately deceptive

    Examples

    • « hollow (or false) promises »
    • « false pretenses »

    Synonyms

  4. 2. as if echoing in a hollow space

    Examples

    • « the hollow sound of footsteps in the empty ballroom »

    Synonyms

  5. 3. devoid of significance or point

    Examples

    • « empty promises »
    • « a hollow victory »
    • « vacuous comments »

    Synonyms

  6. Noun

    hollow

    Definitions

    1. a cavity or space in something

    Examples

    • « hunger had caused the hollows in their cheeks »
  7. 2. a small valley between mountains

    Examples

    • « he built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Appalachians »
  8. 3. a depression hollowed out of solid matter

    Derived terms

  9. Qualitative Adjective

    hollow

    Etymology

    Old English holh ‘cave’; obscurely related to hole

    Definitions

    1. not solid

    Examples

    • « 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 »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

Famous quotes

  • « Those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a hollow, half-hearted success that breeds bitterness all around. »
    Abdul Kalam
  • « Science without respect for human life is degrading to us all and reflects a hollow and deceptive philosophy, a philosophy that we as a people should never condone. »
    Nathan Deal
  • « The earth is the Lord's fullness thereof: this is no longer a hollow dictum of religion, but a directive for economic action toward human brotherhood. »
    Lewis Mumford
  • « I've always thought of beauty therapy, 'alternative' treatments and the like as the female equivalent of brothels - for essentially self-deceiving people who feel a bit hollow and have to pay to be touched. »
    Julie Burchill
  • « All things on earth point home in old October sailors to sea, travellers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken. »
    Thomas Wolfe

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