pit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)
    cavity.
    • they dug a pit to bury the body
  2. noun a concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical depression)
    fossa.
  3. noun the hard inner (usually woody) layer of the pericarp of some fruits (as peaches or plums or cherries or olives) that contains the seed
    endocarp; stone.
    • you should remove the stones from prunes before cooking
  4. noun (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment
    infernal region; perdition; nether region; Hell; Inferno.
    • Hurl'd headlong...To bottomless perdition, there to dwell"- John Milton
    • a demon from the depths of the pit
    • Hell is paved with good intentions"-Dr. Johnson
  5. noun an enclosure in which animals are made to fight
  6. noun (commodity exchange) the part of the floor of a commodity exchange where trading in a particular commodity is carried on
  7. noun (auto racing) an area at the side of a racetrack where the race cars are serviced and refueled
  8. noun a trap in the form of a concealed hole
    pitfall.
  9. noun a surface excavation for extracting stone or slate
    stone pit; quarry.
    • a British term for `quarry' is `stone pit'
  10. noun lowered area in front of a stage where an orchestra accompanies the performers
    orchestra pit.
  11. noun a workplace consisting of a coal mine plus all the buildings and equipment connected with it
    colliery.
  12. verb set into opposition or rivalry
    oppose; play off; match.
    • let them match their best athletes against ours
    • pit a chess player against the Russian champion
    • He plays his two children off against each other
  13. verb mark with a scar
    scar; pock; mark.
    • The skin disease scarred his face permanently
  14. verb remove the pits from
    stone.
    • pit plums and cherries

WordNet

Pit noun
Etymology
OE. pit, put, AS. pytt a pit, hole, L. puteus a well, pit.
Definitions
  1. A large cavity or hole in the ground, either natural or artificial; a cavity in the surface of a body; an indentation; specifically: (a) The shaft of a coal mine; a coal pit. (b) A large hole in the ground from which material is dug or quarried; as, a stone pit; a gravel pit; or in which material is made by burning; as, a lime pit; a charcoal pit. (c) A vat sunk in the ground; as, a tan pit.
    Tumble me into some loathsome pit. Shak.
  2. Any abyss; especially, the grave, or hades.
    Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained. Milton.
    He keepth back his soul from the pit. Job xxxiii. 18.
  3. A covered deep hole for entrapping wild beasts; a pitfall; hence, a trap; a snare. Also used figuratively.
    The anointed of the Lord was taken in their pits. Lam. iv. 20.
  4. A depression or hollow in the surface of the human body; as: (a) The hollow place under the shoulder or arm; the axilla, or armpit. (b) See Pit of the stomach (below). (c) The indentation or mark left by a pustule, as in smallpox.
  5. Formerly, that part of a theater, on the floor of the house, below the level of the stage and behind the orchestra; now, in England, commonly the part behind the stalls; in the United States, the parquet; also, the occupants of such a part of a theater.
  6. An inclosed area into which gamecocks, dogs, and other animals are brought to fight, or where dogs are trained to kill rats. "As fiercely as two gamecocks in the pit." Locke.
  7. Cf. D. pit, akin to E. pith. (Bot.) (a) The endocarp of a drupe, and its contained seed or seeds; a stone; as, a peach pit; a cherry pit, etc. (b) A depression or thin spot in the wall of a duct.
Pit transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Pitted ; present participle & verbal noun Pitting
Definitions
  1. To place or put into a pit or hole.
    They lived like beasts, and were pitted like beasts, tumbled into the grave. T. Grander.
  2. To mark with little hollows, as by various pustules; as, a face pitted by smallpox.
  3. To introduce as an antagonist; to set forward for or in a contest; as, to pit one dog against another.

Webster 1913