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Hollow vs Alley - What's the difference?

hollow | alley |

As nouns the difference between hollow and alley

is that hollow is a small valley between mountains; a low spot surrounded by elevations while alley is a narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings or alley can be a glass marble or taw.

As an adjective hollow

is (of something solid) having an empty space or cavity inside.

As an adverb hollow

is (colloquial) completely, as part of the phrase beat hollow or beat all hollow.

As a verb hollow

is to make a hole in something; to excavate (transitive) or hollow can be to urge or call by shouting; to hollo.

As an interjection hollow

is .

hollow

English

Alternative forms

* holler

Etymology 1

(etyl) holw, holh, from (etyl) . More at cave.

Adjective

(er)
  • (of something solid) Having an empty space or cavity inside.
    • a hollow''' tree; a '''hollow sphere
  • (of a sound) Distant]], eerie; echoing, [[reverberate, reverberating, as if in a hollow space; dull, muffled; often low-pitched.
    • a hollow moan
    (Dryden)
  • (figuratively) Without substance; having no real or significant worth; meaningless.
    • a hollow victory
  • (figuratively) Insincere, devoid of validity; specious.
    • a hollow promise
  • Depressed; concave; gaunt; sunken.
  • * Shakespeare
    • With hollow eye and wrinkled brow.
    Derived terms
    * hollow leg

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (colloquial) Completely, as part of the phrase beat hollow or beat all hollow.

    • Etymology 2

    (etyl) holow, earlier holgh, from (etyl) . See above.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small valley between mountains; a low spot surrounded by elevations.
  • * Prior
    • Forests grew upon the barren hollows .
  • * Tennyson
    • I hate the dreadful hollow behind the little wood.
    He built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Rockies.
  • A sunken area or unfilled space in something solid; a cavity, natural or artificial.
    • the hollow of the hand or of a tree
  • (US) A sunken area.
  • (figuratively) A feeling of emptiness.
    • a hollow in the pit of one's stomach

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to make a hole in something; to excavate (transitive)

    • Etymology 3

    Compare holler.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To urge or call by shouting; to hollo.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • He has hollowed the hounds.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
    • (Webster 1913)

    alley

    English

    (wikipedia alley)

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) and (etyl) alee, feminine of .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.
    • The parking lot to my friend's apartment building is in the alley .
  • (baseball) The area between the outfielders, the gap.
    • He hit one deep into the alley .
  • (bowling) An establishment where bowling is played; bowling alley.
  • (tennis) The extra area between the sidelines or tramlines on a tennis court that is used for doubles matches.
  • A walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes.
  • * Milton
    • I know each lane and every alley green.
  • A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
  • (perspective drawing) Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
  • The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.
    • Derived terms
    * alleyway * up someone's alley

    See also

    * alleyway * bunnyrun * gennel, ginnel, gunnel, jennel * jitty * lane * passage * snicket * wynd

    Etymology 2

    Diminutive of (alabaster).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A glass marble or taw.

    • Anagrams

    *