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pit

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The definition of a pit is a hole in the ground, or the hard stone in a fruit that contains the seed.

(noun)

An example of a pit is a deep hole in the mud.
An example of a pit is the hard core of a peach.

To pit is defined as to set in competition against someone or something.

(verb)

An example of to pit is to turn someone against her best friend.

See pit in Webster's New World College Dictionary

☆

noun

the hard stone, as of the plum, peach, or cherry, which contains the seed

Origin: Du < MDu pitte, akin to pith

transitive verb pitted, pitting

to remove the pit from (a fruit)

noun

a hole or cavity in the ground
an abyss
hell: used with the
a covered hole used to trap wild animals; pitfall
any concealed danger; trap; snare
an enclosed area in which animals are kept or made to fight: a bear pit
1. the shaft of a coal mine
2. the coal mine itself
a hollow or depression on a part of the human body: armpit
a small hollow in a surface; specif., a depressed scar on the skin, as that resulting from smallpox
an area below floor level or ground level
Brit.
1. the ground floor of a theater, esp. the part at the rear
2. the spectators in that section
the section, often below floor level, in front of the stage, where the orchestra sits
☆ the part of the floor of an exchange where a special branch of business is transacted: corn pit
☆
1. a work area for mechanics, often below floor level, for repairing and servicing automotive vehicles
2. the area along the side of a track where racing cars make their pit stops
Bot. a tiny depression in a plant cell wall

Origin: ME < OE pytt < early WGmc & NGmc *puttia (> ON pyttr, Ger pfütze) < L puteus, well, prob. < IE base *pēu-, to chop, cut > L pavire, to beat, strike

transitive verb pitted, pitting

to put, cast, or store in a pit
to make pits in
to mark with small scars: pitted by smallpox
to set (cocks, etc.) in a pit to fight
to set in competition (against)

intransitive verb

to become marked with pits
☆ to make a pit stop during an auto race

See pit in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A natural or artificial hole or cavity in the ground.
a. An excavation for the removal of mineral deposits; a mine.
b. The shaft of a mine.
A concealed hole in the ground used as a trap; a pitfall.
a. Hell.
b. A miserable or depressing place or situation.
c. pits Slang The worst. Used with the: “New York politics are the pits” (Washington Star).
A small indentation in a surface: pits in a windshield.
a. A natural hollow or depression in the body or an organ.
b. A small indented scar left in the skin by smallpox or other eruptive disease; a pockmark.
c. Informal An armpit. Often used in the plural.
An enclosed, usually sunken area in which animals, such as dogs or gamecocks, are placed for fighting.
a. The section directly in front of and below the stage of a theater, in which the musicians sit.
b. Chiefly British The ground floor of a theater behind the stalls.
a. The section of an exchange where trading in a specific commodity is carried on.
b. The gambling area of a casino.
a. A sunken area in a garage floor from which mechanics may work on cars.
b. Sports An area beside an auto racecourse where cars may be refueled or serviced during a race. Used with the. Often used in the plural.
Football The middle areas of the defensive and offensive lines.
Botany A cavity in the wall of a plant cell where there is no secondary wall, as in fibers, tracheids, and vessels.

verb pit·ted, pit·ting, pits

verb, transitive

To mark with cavities, depressions, or scars: a surface pitted with craters.
To set in direct opposition or competition: a war that pitted brother against brother.
To place, bury, or store in a pit.

verb, intransitive