noun

Etymology: Du < MDu pitte, akin to pith

transitive verb pitted pit′·ted, pitting pit′·ting

noun

1. a hole or cavity in the ground
2. an abyss
3. hell: used with the
4. a covered hole used to trap wild animals; pitfall
5. any concealed danger; trap; snare
6. an enclosed area in which animals are kept or made to fight a bear pit
7. 1. the shaft of a coal mine
   2. the coal mine itself
8. a hollow or depression on a part of the human body armpit
9. a small hollow in a surface; specif., a depressed scar on the skin, as that resulting from smallpox
10. an area below floor level or ground level
11. Brit.
    1. the ground floor of a theater, esp. the part at the rear
    2. the spectators in that section
12. the section, often below floor level, in front of the stage, where the orchestra sits
13. ☆ the part of the floor of an exchange where a special branch of business is transacted corn pit
14. ☆
    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
15. Bot. a tiny depression in a plant cell wall

Etymology: 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 pit′·ted, pitting pit′·ting

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

intransitive verb

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