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Hollow vs Devoid - What's the difference?

hollow | devoid |

As adjectives the difference between hollow and devoid

is that hollow is (of something solid) having an empty space or cavity inside while devoid is empty; having none of; completely without.

As verbs the difference between hollow and devoid

is that hollow is to make a hole in something; to excavate (transitive) or hollow can be to urge or call by shouting; to hollo while devoid is (obsolete) to empty out; to remove.

As an adverb hollow

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

As a noun hollow

is a small valley between mountains; a low spot surrounded by elevations.

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)

    devoid

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • empty; having none of; completely without
    • I went searching for a knife, but the kitchen was devoid of anything sharper than a spoon.

    Derived terms

    * devoidness

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To empty out; to remove.

    • Anagrams

    *