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Hollow vs Pierce - What's the difference?

hollow | pierce |

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 noun hollow

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

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 .

As a proper noun pierce is

, medieval variant of piers modern usage may also derive from the surname.

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)

    pierce

    English

    Verb

  • to puncture; to break through
    • The diver pierced the surface of the water with scarcely a splash.
    to pierce''' the enemy's line; a shot '''pierced the ship
  • * Dryden
    • I pierce her tender side.
  • to create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry
    • Can you believe he pierced his tongue?
  • to break or interrupt abruptly
    • A scream pierced the darkness.
  • (figurative) To penetrate; to affect deeply.
    • to pierce a mystery
  • * Alexander Pope
    • pierced with grief
  • * Shakespeare
    • Can no prayers pierce thee?

    Derived terms

    * piercing

    Descendants

    * Japanese:

    Anagrams

    *