a naturally formed or excavated hole or cavity in the ground: pits caused by erosion; clay pits.
a covered or concealed excavation in the ground, serving as a trap.
Mining.
an excavation made in exploring for or removing a mineral deposit, as by open-cut methods.
the shaft of a coal mine.
the mine itself.
the abode of evil spirits and lost souls; hell: an evil inspiration from the pit.
the pits,Slang. an extremely unpleasant, boring, or depressing place, condition, person, etc.; the absolute worst: When you're alone, Christmas is the pits.
a hollow or indentation in a surface: glass flawed by pits.
a natural hollow or depression in the body: the pit of the back.
pits,Informal. the armpits: up to my pits in work.
a small, depressed scar, as one of those left on the skin after smallpox or chicken pox.
an enclosure, usually below the level of the spectators, as for staging fights between dogs, cocks, or, formerly, bears.
(in a commodity exchange) a part of the floor of the exchange where trading in a particular commodity takes place: the corn pit.
Architecture.
all that part of the main floor of a theater behind the musicians.
British.the main floor of a theater behind the stalls.
orchestra (def. 2a).
(in a hoistway) a space below the level of the lowest floor served.
Auto Racing. an area at the side of a track, for servicing and refueling the cars.
Bowling. the sunken area of a bowling alley behind the pins, for the placement or recovery of pins that have been knocked down.
Track. the area forward of the takeoff point in a jumping event, as the broad jump or pole vault, that is filled with sawdust or soft earth to lessen the force of the jumper's landing.
the area or room of a casino containing gambling tables.
verb (used with object),pit·ted,pit·ting.
to mark or indent with pits or depressions: ground pitted by erosion.
to scar with pockmarks: His forehead was pitted by chicken pox.
to place or bury in a pit, as for storage.
to set in opposition or combat, as one against another.
to put (animals) in a pit or enclosure for fighting.
verb (used without object),pit·ted,pit·ting.
to become marked with pits or depressions.
(of body tissue) to retain temporarily a mark of pressure, as by a finger, instrument, etc.
Origin of pit
1
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English pytt<Latin puteus well, pit, shaft; (v.) derivative of the noun
Not only does the ball shrink into a peach pit whenever it slaps against Leonard’s mighty hands, but everytime he steps on the court, he brings a game that’s been molded to dominate areas of the floor, placing an insoluble strain on the opposition.
If Kawhi Turns His Back To The Basket, Watch Out|Michael Pina|September 3, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
He’s the leading figure in remaking old-line exchanges dominated by traders shouting bids from “open outcry pits” into electronic platforms.
First he took energy trading and the NYSE electronic. Now Jeff Sprecher of ICE shares his plans to digitize your mortgage|Shawn Tully|September 2, 2020|Fortune
“Any suggestion that my clients or I have any responsibility in the city’s decision to buy this money pit is a convenient political deflection,” he wrote in a statement.
The Deal Before the 101 Ash St. Debacle Helps Explain How We Got Here|Lisa Halverstadt and Jesse Marx|August 24, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Remains of fire pits were found not far from Border Cave’s former grass beds.
The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents|Bruce Bower|August 13, 2020|Science News
He thinks the arrangement of the pits — in a circle surrounding the henge — might mean they marked the boundary to some important space.
Underground mega-monument found near Stonehenge|Avery Elizabeth Hurt|August 11, 2020|Science News For Students
He watched the pit grow bigger every month, despite the numerous reports he wrote about the facility.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He said he watched waste haulers back up to the pit and unleash torrents of watery muck.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In several reports he urged the pit operators to safeguard the birds.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Abarca allegedly battered Hernandez, who was then dumped in the pit.
Mexico’s First Lady of Murder Is on the Lam|Michael Daly|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The priests conclude that there is common ground on even the most contentious topics that pit science versus spirituality.
Pope Francis Asked ‘Would You Baptize an Alien?’ Here’s the Answer.|Barbie Latza Nadeau|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In earth excavation, the measurement is much simpler, because the pit is more regular and the cars can be fully loaded.
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration v. 2|Various
Rough steps were cut in the side of the pit and, after descending some thirty feet, John found himself in a long passage.
For the Temple|G. A. Henty
The ceremony being over, the mouth of the pit was again covered with the stone, and the company returned.
The Arabian Nights Entertainments|Anonymous
From my pit I could look back and see the cupola of the Seminary--could see through the cupola from one window to the other.
Who Goes There?|Blackwood Ketcham Benson
The wise, for all their wisdom, hardly ever can see how innocence itself may lead the unwise into the pit digged by the wicked.
Oldfield|Nancy Huston Banks
British Dictionary definitions for pit (1 of 3)
pit1
/ (pɪt) /
noun
a large, usually deep opening in the ground
a mine or excavation with a shaft, esp for coal
the shaft in a mine
(as modifier)pit pony; pit prop
a concealed danger or difficulty
the pithell
Also called: orchestra pitthe area that is occupied by the orchestra in a theatre, located in front of the stage
an enclosure for fighting animals or birds, esp gamecocks
anatomy
a small natural depression on the surface of a body, organ, structure, or part; fossa
the floor of any natural bodily cavitythe pit of the stomach
pathola small indented scar at the site of a former pustule; pockmark
any of various small areas in a plant cell wall that remain unthickened when the rest of the cell becomes lignified, esp the vascular tissue
a working area at the side of a motor-racing track for servicing or refuelling vehicles
a section on the floor of a commodity exchange devoted to a special line of trading
a rowdy card game in which players bid for commodities
an area of sand or other soft material at the end of a long-jump approach, behind the bar of a pole vault, etc, on which an athlete may land safely
the ground floor of the auditorium of a theatre
British a slang word for bed (def. 1), bedroom (def. 1)
another word for pitfall (def. 2)
verbpits, pittingorpitted
(tr often foll by against) to match in opposition, esp as antagonists
to mark or become marked with pits
(tr)to place or bury in a pit
See also pits
Word Origin for pit
Old English pytt, from Latin puteus; compare Old French pet, Old High German pfuzzi
Only “Parks And Recreation” Fans Understand These Words & PhrasesAs you rewatch the show on streaming services a million times and prep for the new special coronavirus episode, here is a list of unforgettable Parks And Rec words and phrases that mean something totally different to true fans.
A natural hollow or depression in the body or an organ.
A pockmark.
A sharp-pointed depression in the enamel surface of a tooth, caused by faulty or incomplete calcification or formed by the confluent point of two or more lobes of enamel.
v.
To mark with cavities, depressions, or scars.
To retain an impression after being indented. Used of the skin.