pit1 nounpit2 verb
pitpit1 /pɪt/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINpit1
Origin:
1-5,7-13 Old English pytt6 1800-1900 DutchEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a gravel pit
- Eric's house is a total pit.
- Many of the victims were buried in large pits.
- There are tiny scratches and pits on the windshield.
- They found a large pit where all the dead bodies had been thrown.
- We dug a pit a yard deep in the soil.
- But somebody ought to tell the filmmakers, who are churning out movies as if demand were a bottomless pit.
- Every military camp has a pit, where prisoners are held.
- It was another plastic bag of clothes from the clunch pit murder.
- S., methods by which operas hire pit orchestras vary.
- The dis-used brick pit has been a tip for 10 years and will continue as one for 30 more.
- The opera needs the players for its pit orchestra.
Longman Language Activatora hole in the ground or in the surface of something
· The old mineshaft had left a deep hole, dangerous to both people and livestock.hole in · The aim is to get the ball in a hole in the ground.make a hole (in something) · We made a small hole in the earth, just deep enough to cover the roots of the plant.· Make a hole in the bottom of each plant pot to let the water drain out.dig a hole · A fox had dug a hole under our garden fence.· Construction workers have to dig a thousand foot hole before work can start on the tunnel.
a big hole in the surface of something, especially the ground, that is caused by an explosion or a large falling object: · The meteor left a crater over five miles wide.crater in: · When the bomb exploded it left a huge crater in the ground.
a hole in the surface of a road that makes driving difficult or dangerous: · He rode his bike over an enormous pothole.· It is going to cost the city at least $500,000 to patch potholes created by winter rains.
a large wide hole in the ground, especially one that is used for a particular purpose such as burying things: · They found a large pit where all the dead bodies had been thrown.· We dug a pit a yard deep in the soil.
an extremely deep empty space, seen from a very high point such as the edge of a mountain - used especially in literature: · Matthew found himself standing at the edge of a deep abyss.
a very deep space between two high areas of rock, especially one that is dangerous: · An unsteady-looking rope bridge was the only way to get across the chasm.· The landscape was a series of mountains, chasms, canyons and valleys.
WORD SETSabalone, nounacetic acid, nounadditive, nounaftertaste, nounà la carte, adjectiveal dente, adjectivealfresco, adjectiveambrosia, nounangelica, nounaniseed, nounantipasto, nounappetizer, nounarrowroot, nounbad, adjectivebaker, nounbaking powder, nounbaking soda, nounbanana split, nounbanger, nounbanquet, nounbanqueting hall, nounbarbie, nounbarley, nounbasil, nounbass, nounbatch, nounbay leaf, nounBBQ, nounbean, nounbean curd, nounbeansprout, nounbeef, nounbeefburger, nounbeefsteak, nounbeet, nounbell pepper, nounberry, nounbetel, nounbetel nut, nounbicarbonate of soda, nounbilberry, nounbill of fare, nounbinge, nounbinge, verbbistro, nounblackberry, nounblack-eyed bean, nounblack pepper, nounblack pudding, nounblend, verbblend, nounblueberry, nounboard, nounbolt, verbbone, verbbon vivant, nounbony, adjectivebox lunch, nounbramble, nounbran, nounbrandy butter, nounbrasserie, nounbrawn, nounbreakfast, nounbrisket, nounbroiler, nounbroiler chicken, nounbroth, nounbrown rice, nounbrunch, nounbubble gum, nounbuckwheat, nounbuffet, nounbun, nounbus, verbbusboy, nounbutcher, nounbutcher, verbbutchery, nounbuttercream, nounbutty, nouncafé, nouncafeteria, nouncaff, nouncaffeine, nouncake, nouncan, verbcandy, nouncanned, adjectivecapon, nouncapsicum, nouncaraway, nouncarbohydrate, nouncare package, nouncarvery, nouncassava, nouncater, verbcaterer, nouncatering, nouncatsup, nouncatwalk, nouncayenne pepper, nouncereal, nouncheese, nounchef, nouncherry tomato, nounchickpea, nounchilli, nounChinese, nounchip shop, nounchives, nounchocolate, nounchocolatey, adjectiveChristmas dinner, nounchuck steak, nouncitric acid, nouncitron, nounclotted cream, nounclub sandwich, nouncob, nouncobbler, nouncocoa, nouncocoa bean, nouncoconut milk, nouncoffee house, nouncoffee shop, nouncold cuts, nouncold storage, nouncold store, nouncommissary, nounconcentrate, nouncondensed milk, nouncondiment, nouncone, nounconfection, nounconfectioner, nounconfectioner's sugar, nounconfectionery, nounconserve, nouncontent, nouncontinental breakfast, nounconvenience food, nouncook-chill, adjectivecooker, nouncookie, nouncooking, nouncooking oil, nouncorn bread, nouncorn chip, nouncorncob, nouncorned beef, nouncornet, nouncornflakes, nouncornflour, nouncornmeal, nouncorn on the cob, nouncorn pone, nouncornstarch, nouncorn syrup, nouncottage cheese, nouncotton candy, nouncourgette, nouncourse, nouncover charge, nouncrab, nouncrab apple, nouncracker, nouncrackling, nouncranberry, nouncrayfish, nouncream, nouncream cheese, nouncream cracker, nouncreamer, nouncreamy, adjectivecress, nouncrisp, nouncrisp, adjectivecrispbread, nouncrispy, adjectivecroissant, nouncroquette, nouncrouton, nouncrumb, nouncrumpet, nouncrunchy, adjectivecrust, nouncrusty, adjectivecrystallized, adjectivecucumber, nouncud, nouncuisine, nouncupcake, nouncurd, nouncurdle, verbcurrant, nouncustard, nouncut, nouncutlet, noundainty, nounDanish pastry, noundate, noundefrost, verbdelicacy, noundemerara sugar, noundesiccated, adjectivedevilled, adjectivedevour, verbdiabetic, adjectivedigest, verbdigestible, adjectivedill, noundill pickle, noundine, verbdiner, noundining car, noundinner, noundinner dance, noundinner party, noundinner theater, noundinnertime, noundissolve, verbdoggy bag, noundoily, noundollop, noundough, noundown, verbdrain, verbdredge, verbdried, adjectivedried fruit, noundripping, noundrumstick, noundry goods, noundunk, verbEaster egg, nouneat, verbeatery, nouneating apple, nouneats, nounEccles cake, nounéclair, nounEdam, nounedible, adjectiveeel, nounegg, nouneggplant, nounegg roll, nounelevenses, nounendive, nounEnglish breakfast, nounEnglish muffin, nounentrée, nounepicure, nounescalope, nounevaporated milk, nounfast food, nounfeed, verbfeed, nounfeta cheese, nounfig, nounfilbert, nounfillet, verbfilling, adjectivefilling, nounfilo, nounflounder, nounfloury, adjectiveflyblown, adjectivefoil, nounfoodstuff, nounforage, nounfork, verbfortify, verbfreeze-dried, adjectiveFrench bean, nounFrench bread, nounFrench dressing, nounFrench fry, nounFrench loaf, nounFrench stick, nounfries, nounfromage frais, nounfrozen, adjectivefruit, nounfudge, nounfull-fat, adjectivegaram masala, noungarlic, noungarnish, noungarnish, verbgastronomic, adjectivegastronomy, noungel, verbginger, nounglass, nounglassware, noungolden raisin, noungoody, noungourmand, noungrain, nounGranary, adjectivegranulated, adjectivegreasy, adjectivegreasy spoon, noungreen, adjectivegrill, noungristle, noungrocer, nounground, adjectiveground beef, noungrub, noungruel, nounguava, noungum, noungumball, noungumbo, noungumdrop, nounhalal, adjectivehalibut, nounham, nounhamburger, nounhaunch, nounhead table, nounhealth food, nounheart, nounhearty, adjectiveheat, nounherb, nounhigh tea, nounhome economics, nounhot dish, nounhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectiveiceman, nounindigestible, adjectiveindigestion, nouninedible, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveingest, verbinn, nouninsipid, adjectiveintake, nounirradiate, verbjellied, adjectivejoint, nounjuice, nounjuicy, adjectivejunk, nounjunk food, nounknuckle, nounkosher, adjectivelaxative, nounlean, adjectiveleavings, nounleg, nounlight, adjectiveliquorice, nounlive, adjectiveloaf, nounlocker, nounloin, nounlotus, nounlukewarm, adjectivelump, nounlunch, nounlunch, verblunchbox, nounlunch break, nounluncheon, nounlunch hour, nounlunchroom, nounlunchtime, nounluscious, adjectivemace, nounMadeira cake, nounmain course, nounmaitre d', nounmaize, nounmandarin, nounmandarin orange, nounmangetout, nounmango, nounmaple syrup, nounmargarine, nounmarge, nounmarmalade, nounmarrow, nounmarshmallow, nounMason jar, nounmasticate, verbmature, adjectivemature, verbmeal, nounmealie, nounmealtime, nounmealy, adjectivemeat, nounmeat-packing, nounmeaty, adjectivemellow, adjectivementhol, nounmentholated, adjectivemenu, nounmess, nounmess, verbmess hall, nounmilk chocolate, nounmillet, nounmince, nounmint, nounmocha, nounmolasses, nounmoreish, adjectivemorsel, nounmouldy, adjectivemouth, nounmouthful, nounMSG, nounmunch, verbmung bean, nounmush, nounmushroom, nounmustard, nounnibble, verbnibble, nounnosh, nounnourish, verbnourishment, nounnugget, nounnut, nounnutcracker, nounnutshell, nounnutty, adjectiveoatmeal, nounoats, nounoffal, nounokra, nounon, prepositiononion, nounorder, nounoregano, nounorganic, adjectiveoverindulge, verboxtail, nounpackaging, nounpacker, nounpap, nounparcel, nounpaste, nounpastille, nounpastry, nounpatisserie, nounpearl barley, nounpectin, nounpeel, verbpeel, nounpepper, nounpepper, verbpeppercorn, nounpeppermint, nounperishable, adjectivepetit four, nounpiccalilli, nounpicnic, nounpicnic, verbpie, nounpilaff, nounpilau, nounpimento, nounpinto bean, nounpit, nounpizza parlor, nounpizzeria, nounplain chocolate, nounplain flour, nounploughman's lunch, nounpoor boy, nounpork, nounpork pie, nounpork rinds, nounporridge, nounporterhouse steak, nounportion, nounpostprandial, adjectivepotato, nounpotato crisp, nounpotted, adjectivepoultry, nounpraline, nounprawn, nounprepacked, adjectivepreservative, nounpreserve, verbpreserve, nounpretzel, nounprovision, verbprune, nounpuff pastry, nounpumpernickel, nounpumpkin, nounpuree, verbquince, nounQuorn, nounrabbit, nounrancid, adjectiverare, adjectiveravenous, adjectiveraw, adjectivered meat, nounreheat, verbrennet, nounrepast, nounreplete, adjectiverestaurant, nounrestaurant car, nounrestaurateur, nounrib, nounrice, nounrigatoni, nounrind, nounripe, adjectiveroadhouse, nounrock, nounroe, nounroll, nounroot vegetable, nounrose hip, nounrusk, nounrutabaga, nounsaccharin, nounsalad cream, nounsalad dressing, nounsalami, nounsalmon, nounsalsa, nounsalt, verbsalt, adjectivesalty, adjectivesandwich, nounsardine, nounsassafras, nounsatisfying, adjectivesatsuma, nounsauerkraut, nounsausage, nounscallion, nounscampi, nounscone, nounscoop, nounScotch broth, nounscratchings, nounseafood, nounseasoned, adjectiveseed, verbsemolina, nounservery, nounservice charge, nounserving, nounset, adjectiveshallot, nounshellfish, nounsherbet, nounshish kebab, nounshortbread, nounshortcake, nounshortcrust pastry, nounshoulder, nounshrimp cocktail, nounside order, nounsillabub, nounsimnel cake, nounsingle cream, nounsirloin, nounsitting, nounskimmed milk, nounskin, nounskin, verbslaw, nounslice, nounsliced bread, nounsloe, nounsloppy joe, nounsmorgasbord, nounsnack bar, nounsnow pea, nounsoda fountain, nounsodium chloride, nounsoft fruit, nounsorghum, nounsoul food, nounsour, adjectivesour, verbsourdough, nounsoya, nounsoya bean, nounspearmint, nounspinach, nounsponge, nounsponge cake, nounsponge pudding, nounspoon, verbspoonful, nounspotted dick, nounspread, nounspring onion, nounspring roll, nounsprout, nounspud, nounsquash, nounsquid, nounstaple, nounstarfruit, nounstarter, nounsteak, nounsteakhouse, nounsteak tartare, nounstew, nounstick, nounStilton, nounstir-fry, verbstodge, nounstone-ground, adjectivestrawberry, nounstring bean, nounstringy, adjectivestrudel, nounsub, nounsucrose, nounsuet, nounsugar, nounsugar, verbsugar-coated, adjectivesugar cube, nounsugar lump, nounsugary, adjectivesultana, nounsun-dried, adjectivesup, verbsupper, nounsustenance, nounswallow, verbswallow, nounswede, nounsweetcorn, nounsweetened condensed milk, nounsweetener, nounsweetmeat, nounsweet pepper, nounsweet potato, nounsyrup, nounsyrupy, adjectivetable d'hôte, nountaco, nountaffy, nountainted, adjectivetakeaway, nountakeout, nountangerine, nountapas, nountapioca, nountaramasalata, nountariff, nountart, nountartare sauce, nountaste, verbtasteless, adjectivetaster, nountasting, nountater, nountattie, nounT-bone steak, nountea, nounteacake, nountender, adjectivetin, nountinned, adjectivetitbit, nountoffee apple, nountofu, nountomato, nountongue, nountop, nountopping, nountop round, nountopside, nountop table, nountortilla, nountough, adjectivetransport cafe, nountreacle, nountrifle, nountripe, nountrotter, nountruck stop, nountruffle, nountub, nountuna, nounturkey, nounTurkish delight, nounturnip, nounturnover, nountutti frutti, nounTV dinner, nounTVP, noununadulterated, adjectiveunleavened, adjectiveunpalatable, adjectivevacuum-packed, adjectivevanilla, nounveal, nounvegan, nounvegetable, nounvegetarian, nounvegetarianism, nounveggie, nounvenison, nounvictual, verbvictuals, nounvoracious, adjectivevoucher, nounwaiter, nounwaitress, nounwalnut, noun-ware, suffixwarmed-over, adjectivewedge, nounwell, nounwell-done, adjectivewell-fed, adjectivewet fish, nounwheat, nounwhite, nounwhite flour, nounwhite pepper, nounwhite sauce, nounwholefood, nounwholemeal, adjectivewhole wheat, adjectivewiener, nounwild rice, nounwishbone, nounwrap, nounyeast extract, nounyoghurt, nounyogurt, nounyolk, nounyule log, nounyummy, adjectivezucchini, nounzwieback, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
The female digs a pit in which to lay the eggs. Dad first went down the pit (=worked in a coal mine) when he was 15 years old. a national strike against pit closures an inspection pit Just thinking about the future plunged her into a pit of despair.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The government does not have a bottomless pit (=a supply with no limits) of money to spend on public services.
The female digs a pit in which to lay the eggs. Dad first went down the pit (=worked in a coal mine) when he was 15 years old. a national strike against pit closures an inspection pit Just thinking about the future plunged her into a pit of despair. The government does not have a bottomless pit (=a supply with no limits) of money to spend on public services. (=a place where gravel is dug out of the ground)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· You both are doomed to the bottomless pits of hell.· You've got to go down into this bottomless pit before you can pick yourself up again.· But somebody ought to tell the filmmakers, who are churning out movies as if demand were a bottomless pit.· It is because pleasure-seeking is a bottomless pit, never satisfied.· Her sleep was black and absolute, as if she had been dropped into a bottomless pit.· Thus, pump-priming has turned into a bottomless pit for the Treasury, in spite of the reinvestment of large receipts from land sales.· And then, suddenly, an open door with a dark, bottomless pit behind it.
· It could have been hours or minutes later that Isabel found herself staring into a dark pit.· Then - jump into the deep dark pit, Beano.· Then the trigger as you pull it, then the pellet punching a dark red pit in the rabbit's neck.· At first he will be greatly praised by his people, before sinking down into the dark pit of sin and pride.· And then, suddenly, an open door with a dark, bottomless pit behind it.
· Then - jump into the deep dark pit, Beano.· At the distillery, workers mash agave plants with a huge grindstone drawn around a deep circular pit by an ancient tractor.· But open-cast mine workforces, unlike deep-pit miners, are mobile rather than drawn from local residents.· Digging deep pits and building privies.· Buildings were hastily demolished, and ironwork likely to be of use to the natives was buried in a deep pit.· The landfill managers identified a 10-foot-deep pit 50 feet by 50 feet they believed was where the trash was dumped.· Eventually she would climb out of the deep pit of the subconscious, exhausted.· From its floor rose several lava pillars; eroded, contorted shapes brooding in the deep pit.
· Some areas appear to be relatively young, with few craters, while other areas are pocked with large craters and pits.· It was associated with large waterlogged pits which contained leather offcuts, dung and other organic residues.· Cerrejon is the second largest open pit coal mine in the world.· A large pit containing over 50 unbroken mid-Antonine samian vessels might well be taken to indicate a pottery shop nearby.· Advantage: the closet is larger than a pit and therefore lasts longer also it is easy to empty.· Why did these large pits near the coast not exist in the last century?
· Left: Potgietersrus Platinums, the 200,000 ton a month open pit platinum mine was opened on 3 September 1993.· Parys - discovered in 1768 and worked in a Mountain series of open pits and underground mines.· Twisted, starved, naked bodies stacked up like cordwood or tossed into great open pits.· Chromium Chromite has been produced from numerous small open pit workings on Unst in Shetland.· Cerrejon is the second largest open pit coal mine in the world.· This is hosed down from the sides of the open pits.· The near-vertical deposit has been drilled to 300 m depth and could be worked in an open pit.
· Chromium Chromite has been produced from numerous small open pit workings on Unst in Shetland.· Suspended from a length of string hung over a chair placed beside the small pit was a piece of card.
NOUN· Except for the flies that is which had the persistence of pit bull terriers.· He could check it, he supposed, with the new super, a tough-talking veteran with a pit bull.· High Road has tackled all kinds of issues from pit bull terrier fighting to cot death in order to illuminate character.· Everyone knows that terriers are excitable, that pit bulls bite and that all pups urinate on the carpet.· Statistically in San Francisco, pit bulls are over-represented in attacks on people, according to animal control officials.· Animal advocates strongly oppose the practice of denying insurance to owners of pit bulls and Rottweilers.· Do you own a pit bull?
· The firm is centralising production in Lancashire, and staff are blaming the job losses on the Government's pit closure programme.· He found himself under severe pressure last year when the pit closure programme was announced.· These ravenous companies claim to provide jobs to communities starved of employment following the pit closures.· Occupancy at Pontins dropped 13% and bookings dipped after pit closures were announced.· The breakaway union is balloting its members for a one-day token strike in protest over the amended pit closure plans.· Barr Thomson blamed the Government's pit closure announcement for its failure.
· Some men pinched all the wages at the gravel pit.· Hand carts and horsedrawn carts wait to carry away building supplies brought from the gravel pits of Middlesex.· Not simply on Tring Reservoirs or the home counties gravel pits do men now sit for a ten pounder anymore.· The money he had stolen from the gravel pits reposed under his bunk in the houseboat.· Wet gravel pits are generally recognised as important habitats for wildlife, particularly in view of the increasing drainage of wetlands.· He crossed the road and went into the gravel pit.· A gravel pit search by divers was put off yesterday as experts continued checking the area.
· The inspection pit and work bench.· Below: The interior of the depot, with its five inspection pits and single-span roof.· The remains of the old Motherwell car are lying in the inspection pit underneath! 3.
· His misery was compounded when he was fined for speeding in the pit lane.· The pit lane, though, reckons Red 5 will return.· But a pit lane full of Longines-Olivetti computer gear and Desert Storm-style motor-homes has reduced the role of these companions.
· He came out on stage and called them all down to the orchestra pit right in front of him.· But there are certain dizzy overtones to her narrative -- she only fell drunk into the orchestra pit once.· There in the hidden orchestra pit sat Fein, less gray, and happy to be working.
· Many schools are fortunate to have an outside sand pit as well.· Now suppose we ask Professor Summerlee, after a particular landing in the sand pit, what he has just experienced.· It appears that there has been some misunderstanding with regard to the sand pit cover. 3.
· Having reached Aulef and taken on water, that night was a pit stop.· Zanardi opened up a four-second gap over second-place Brian Herta, which Herta made up with a good pit stop.· But three factors suggest their stumbling Christmas represents a pit stop rather than the wheels coming off altogether.· The mistake was the result of an earlier pit stop in which his crew failed to fill his Chevrolet with enough gasoline.· McVeighty gambled on going the complete four laps on one tankful of petrol, while Bell made one pit stop.
· They could be responsible for managing services covering 4,000 households, a large inner city estate or several former pit villages.· I was brought up in a pit village near Bishop Auckland and I never knew my father.· There are a lot of fields, then a pit village, a pit tip and another dozen fields.· The farmland remained but pit villages, with rows of terraced houses for the miners, were scattered throughout the region.· I live in Glyn-Neath, West Glamorgan, an old pit village with huge unemployment.· Walk down a row of houses in a pit village today, and ask where the people's ancestors came from.· Horden is a former pit village, and proud of it, in East Durham.
VERB· The nationalised industry announced that it is to close 31 pits, which will result in 30,000 job losses.· The market says close the pits.· The White Paper proposes closing just 12 pits, as opposed to the 31 originally scheduled, with a further six to be mothballed.· Decisions were made to close the Rin pit late in 1983 and other closures are believed to have been planned.· Even when the Government have closed the pits, their vendetta against our communities continues.· It will cost a lot of money to close pits down, dismantle the sites etc.· The National Coal Board wanted to close some uneconomic pits and their advice was that this could be achieved by local talks.· In the short term, two of the 21 pits under the Government review - Bolsover and Sharlston - will close.
· Some people ask how much coal will be dug or how many pits will be open by the year 2000.· Elsewhere, as Wallace recorded, they dig their pits in the hot sand.· To survive is to dig into the pit of your own resources over and over again.· Teams of contractors dig the pits for farmers.
· To an extent educationalists have fallen into a pit of their own making.· It is easier to fall into a pit than to get out again, and the prospects in Sri Lanka are grim.· Agnes thought that rules like ` Don't fall into this huge pit of spikes' were there for a purpose.· He would fall into a pit, he would descend to hell.
· That cross-party committee urged a multi-million pound subsidy and other measures to save half of the pits earmarked for closure last October.· But, he admitted yesterday that there were only two ways to save the pits - government subsidies or higher electricity prices.
· Awa and Nana are accused of killing the baby either by magic, or by throwing it into a pit.· So it is with the young prospects we throw into the pits of the courtroom.· Then her head was struck off and fixed on gallows and her body thrown into the pit.
· There is also work at the modern pit at Kellingley or the new Snaith pit.· Thousands left Swaledale to work in the pits of Durham and the mills of Lancashire.· The near-vertical deposit has been drilled to 300 m depth and could be worked in an open pit.· Even first-team players had odd jobs and reserves often worked shifts at the pit or elsewhere.· Is not that a long enough period for miners to be working down the pit?· David Park had been born and reared in New Cumnock and had worked in the pits in the area.· I get tired but you get more tired working down the pit.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► make a pit stop
1hole a)a hole in the ground, especially one made by digging: - And this time I got in-well, to Loyola, which everybody thought was really the pits.
- Does he expect us to be convinced by his words about the prevalence of cholera in the pits?
- In the pits they didn't shut down they put their own breed of managers, under-managers and deputies ...
- Real-estate prices were in the pits.
- So it is with the young prospects we throw into the pits of the courtroom.
- The market says close the pits.
- There are a lot of interesting birds on the pits.
- Again the howl, as if one of Satan's demons was rising from the pit of Hell.
- And in a pit of mud, what bubbles?
- He was developing a peculiar feeling in the pit of his stomach; a feeling beyond sickness, beyond shock.
- So it is with the young prospects we throw into the pits of the courtroom.
- The only real life, curiously enough, was underground, in the pit of hell itself.
- This person accepted that life was a pit of evil, and they were fine about it.
- When that first cup of coffee was finished, a ball of fear nestled in the pit of my stomach.
- Wouldn't it be the pits if your flight got canceled?
- I have heard of some stupid fashion details in my time, but this is the pits.
- In other words Gideon was the pits in his own eyes - a coward and an unimportant member of an unimpressive family!
- Which Minister is the pits with the miners whose livelihoods now hang in the balance?
- He was developing a peculiar feeling in the pit of his stomach; a feeling beyond sickness, beyond shock.
- I felt a twinge in the pit of my stomach.
- Now suddenly she could feel the pleasure such imaginings had aroused uncurling in a warm spiral in the pit of her stomach.
- She closed her eyes for a moment, fighting the tremor that began somewhere in the pit of her stomach.
- She watched as he crossed the meadow and felt the familiar jolt in the pit of her stomach as he came near.
- When that first cup of coffee was finished, a ball of fear nestled in the pit of my stomach.
- Jill and Oz will pit their wits against each other, as they try to identify mystery wines.
The female digs a pit in which to lay the eggs. a five-foot deep pit → sandpit b)a large hole in the ground from which stones or minerals are obtained by digginggravel/sand/chalk pit2mine especially British English a coal mine: Dad first went down the pit (=worked in a coal mine) when he was 15 years old. a national strike against pit closures3mark a small hollow mark in the surface of something, especially on your skin as the result of a disease: the deep pits left by smallpox4untidy place [usually singular] informal a house or room that is dirty, untidy, or in bad condition5be the pits informal to be extremely bad: The company refused to pay – I think it’s the pits.6in/at the pit of your stomach if you have a feeling in the pit of your stomach, you have a sick or tight feeling in your stomach, usually because you are nervous or afraid: I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something terrible was going to happen.7car racing the pits the place beside the track in a car race where cars can come in for petrol, new tyres etc → pit stop8in a theatre an orchestra pit9in a garage a hole in the floor of a garage that lets you get under a car to repair it: an inspection pit10a/the pit of something literary a situation which makes you feel very bad: Just thinking about the future plunged her into a pit of despair.11in fruit especially American English the single large hard seed in some fruits SYN stone British English: a peach pit12body part informal an armpit13business American English the area of a stock exchange where people buy and sell shares SYN floor British Englishpit1 nounpit2 verb
pitpit2 verb (past tense and past participle pitted, present participle pitting) VERB TABLE
pit
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | pit |
| he, she, it | pits | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | pitted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have pitted |
| he, she, it | has pitted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had pitted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will pit |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have pitted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am pitting |
| he, she, it | is pitting | |
| you, we, they | are pitting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was pitting |
| you, we, they | were pitting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been pitting |
| he, she, it | has been pitting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been pitting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be pitting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been pitting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Andretti pitted with 16 laps left.
- The street was pitted with potholes.
- CO2 pellets do not pit or cut the surface they are cleaning.
- Colors of the rainbow sparkled in the spray, the ground was less pitted and dusty.
- Leaders and managers who are trying to speed up the pace of change in their organizations will find themselves pitted against job-mindedness.
- Never in this century has the fight for the presidency pitted a congressional monarch against an incumbent president.
- She was still quite ready for anything the Union chose to pit a gains her.
- Stainless steel cutlery Can discolour and pit if left coated with food, so use the pre-wash cycle.
- You could also add drained, pitted canned cherries.
Longman Language Activatorto try to do better than another person or organization
to try to do better than another person or organization, for example in business or politics: compete with: · Nowadays we have to compete more and more with foreign companies.compete against: · The cities are competing against each other to attract and retain business.compete for (=in order to get something): · Children will always compete for their parents' attention.can't compete with somebody/something (=not have enough skill, money etc to compete with another person, company etc): · Small independent bookstores just can't compete with national chains and online retailers.compete to do something: · Fujitsu, Hitachi, and NEC are competing with US firms to build the world's fastest supercomputer.
to try extremely hard to get an important job or political position that other people are also trying to get: fight for: · If you want the job, you'll have to fight for it.fight somebody for something: · Williams fought several rivals for the leadership of the party.
written if two people, organizations etc vie with each other in order to do something, they compete in order to try to do it: vie for: · The two political factions are vying for control of the school board.vie with somebody for something: · Paris and Milan vie with each other for the title of world fashion capital.
to compete with someone in a fight or competition, especially someone who is stronger, more powerful etc than you: · The company had pitted itself against the giants of the computer industry in an attempt to increase its share of the market.pit your wits against somebody (=compete with someone in a test of knowledge): · On the quiz show ordinary people pit their wits against a panel of celebrities.
WORD SETSallspice, nounbake, verbbarbecue, verbbaste, verbblanch, verbboil, verbbottle, verbbouillon cube, nounbraise, verbbreadcrumbs, nounbreaded, adjectivebrine, nounbroil, verbbrown, verbbutter, verbcandied, adjectivecaper, nouncaramel, nouncardamom, nouncarve, verbcasserole, nouncasserole, verbcaster sugar, nouncharbroil, verbchervil, nounchestnut, nounchicory, nounchill, verbchilli powder, nounchip, verbcilantro, nouncinnamon, nounclean, verbclove, nouncochineal, nouncoconut, nouncook, verbcook, nouncookbook, nouncookery, nouncookery book, nouncordon bleu, adjectivecore, verbcoriander, nouncream, verbcrisp, verbcube, verbculinary, adjectivecumin, nouncurry powder, noundeep fry, verbdessertspoon, noundevilled, adjectivedice, verbdone, adjectivedress, verbessence, nounfat, nounflambé, adjectiveflan, nounflavouring, nounflour, nounflour, verbfrost, verbfrosting, nounfry, verbglaze, verbglaze, noungourmet, adjectivegourmet, noungrate, verbgrease, noungrease, verbgreaseproof paper, noungrill, verbgrill, noungrind, verbgut, verbhard-boiled, adjectivehaute cuisine, nounhob, nounhull, verbhusk, verbice, verbicebox, nounicing, nounicing sugar, nouningredient, nounjoint, verbknead, verblard, nounlard, verbleaven, nounliquidize, verbmarinade, nounmarinate, verbmarjoram, nounmicrowave, verbmince, verbmincer, nounmint, nounmix, verbmix, nounnouvelle cuisine, nounnutmeg, nounoil, nounolive oil, nounoverdone, adjectiveparboil, verbpare, verbpickle, verbpipe, verbpit, verbpitted, adjectivepkt, pluck, verbplum tomato, nounpoach, verbprecooked, adjectivepreheat, verbprep, verbprove, verbrecipe, nounreduce, verbrice paper, nounrind, nounrise, verbroast, verbroast, nounroast, adjectiverosemary, nounroux, nounsaffron, nounsage, nounsalt, nounsalt, verbsauce, nounsausage meat, nounsauté, verbsavory, nounscalloped, adjectivesear, verbseason, verbseasoning, nounself-raising flour, nounself-rising flour, nounsesame, nounshell, verbshortening, nounshort-order cook, nounshuck, verbsieve, verbsift, verbsifter, nounsimmer, verbsimmer, nounskewer, verbsmoke, verbsoak, verbsoda, nounsodium bicarbonate, nounspice, nounspice, verbspicy, adjectivestarch, nounsteam, verbsteep, verbstew, verbstock, nounstone, verbstrain, verbstuff, verbstuffing, nounsunny-side up, adjectivesweat, verbsweet-and-sour, adjectiveTabasco, nountandoori, adjectivetarragon, nountbsp, teaspoon, nountenderize, verbtenderloin, nountextured vegetable protein, nounthaw, verbthyme, nountimer, nountoast, nountoast, verbtoss, verbtruss, verbtsp, turmeric, noununderdone, adjectivevinaigrette, nounvinegar, nounwhip, verbwhisk, verbyeast, nounzap, verbzest, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The government does not have a bottomless pit (=a supply with no limits) of money to spend on public services.
(=compete against someone using your intelligence or knowledge) Pit your wits against family or friends!
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Pit your wits against family or friends! The government does not have a bottomless pit (=a supply with no limits) of money to spend on public services. (=a place where gravel is dug out of the ground)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Jill and Oz will pit their wits against each other, as they try to identify mystery wines.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► make a pit stop
1[transitive] to put small marks or holes in the surface of somethingbe pitted with something- Jill and Oz will pit their wits against each other, as they try to identify mystery wines.
The whole street was pitted with potholes.GRAMMAR Pit is usually passive in this meaning.2[transitive] especially American English to take out the single hard seed inside some fruits SYN stone: Peel and pit two avocados.3[intransitive] American English to stop in a car race to get petrol or have your car repaired → pittedpit somebody/something against somebody/something phrasal verb to test someone’s strength, ability, power etc in a competition or fight against someone or something else: We’ll be pitting our team against the champions.pit your wits against somebody (=compete against someone using your intelligence or knowledge) Pit your wits against family or friends!pit yourself against something/somebody The men had to pit themselves against the forces of nature.pit out phrasal verb American English informal to sweat so much that your clothes become wet under your arms