pit

[[t]pɪ̱t[/t]]

♦♦♦

pits, pitting, pitted

1) N-COUNT A pit is a coal mine.

It was a better community then when all the pits were working.

2) N-COUNT A pit is a large hole that is dug in the ground.

Eric lost his footing and began to slide into the pit.

3) N-COUNT: supp N A gravel pit or clay pit is a very large hole that is left where gravel or clay has been dug from the ground.

This area of former farmland was worked as a gravel pit until 1964.

4) VERB: usu passive If two opposing things or people are pitted against one another, they are in conflict.

[be V-ed against n] You will be pitted against two, three, or four people who are every bit as good as you are...

[V-ed] This was one man pitted against the universe.

5) N-COUNT: usu pl In motor racing, the pits are the areas at the side of the track where drivers stop to get more fuel and to repair their cars during races.

→ See also pit stop

He moved quickly into the pits and climbed rapidly out of the car.

6) N-PLURAL: the N If you describe something as the pits, you mean that it is extremely bad. [SPOKEN]

Mary Ann asked him how dinner had been. `The pits,' he replied.

7) N-COUNT A pit is the stone of a fruit or vegetable. [AM]

Syn:

stone

8) → See also , fleapit, , sandpit

9) PHRASE: V inflects If you pit your wits against someone, you compete with them in a test of knowledge or intelligence.

I'd like to manage at the very highest level and pit my wits against the best.

10) PHRASE If you have a feeling in the pit of your stomach, you have a tight or sick feeling in your stomach, usually because you are afraid or anxious.

I had a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.

11) a bottomless pit → see bottomless