Collins English-English Dictionary

pit [pɪt]

1. 1. n orchestra pit the area that is occupied by the orchestra in a theatre, located in front of the stage

2. 2. n a large, usually deep opening in the ground

3. 3. n a mine or excavation with a shaft, esp for coal

4. 4. n the shaft in a mine

5. 5. n (as modifier)

   pit pony

   pit prop

6. 6. n a concealed danger or difficulty

7. 7. n an enclosure for fighting animals or birds, esp gamecocks

8. 8. n [anatomy] a small natural depression on the surface of a body, organ, structure, or part; fossa

9. 9. n the floor of any natural bodily cavity

   the pit of the stomach

10. 10. n [pathol] a small indented scar at the site of a former pustule; pockmark

11. 11. n 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

12. 12. n a working area at the side of a motor-racing track for servicing or refuelling vehicles

13. 13. n a section on the floor of a commodity exchange devoted to a special line of trading

14. 14. n a rowdy card game in which players bid for commodities

15. 15. n 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

16. 16. n the ground floor of the auditorium of a theatre

17. 17. n a slang word for bed

18. 18. n another word for pitfall

19. 19. vt. [Brit] [tr; often foll by against] to match in opposition, esp as antagonists

20. 20. vt. to mark or become marked with pits

21. 21. vt. [tr] to place or bury in a pit

22. 22. vt. See also pits

23. 23. vt. [Etymology] Old English pytt, from Latin puteus; compare Old French pet, Old High German pfuzzi

pit [pɪt]

1. 1. n [chiefly US and Canadian] the stone of a cherry, plum, etc

2. 2. vt. [tr] to extract the stone from (a fruit)

3. 3. vt. [Etymology] C19: from Dutch: kernel; compare pith

pit [pɪt]

1. 1. vb a Scot word for put