hol·low
(hŏĺō)
[Middle English holwe, holowe, from holgh, hole, burrow (influenced by hole, hollow), from Old English holh.]
adjective: -er, -est.
- Having a cavity, gap, or space within: a hollow wall.
- Deeply indented or concave; sunken: “His bearded face already has a set, hollow look” (Conor Cruise O'Brien)
- Without substance or character: a hollow person. See synonyms at vain
- Devoid of truth or validity; specious: “Theirs is at best a hollow form of flattery” (Annalyn Swan)
- Having a reverberating, sepulchral sound: hollow footsteps.
noun
- A cavity, gap, or space: a hollow behind a wall.
- An indented or concave surface or area.
- A void; an emptiness: a hollow in one's life.
- A small valley between mountains.
verb: -lowed, -low·ing, -lows.
transitive verb
- To make hollow: hollow out a pumpkin.
- To scoop or form by making concave: hollow out a nest in the sand.
intransitive verb
- To become hollow or empty.
derivatives
- hoĺlow·ly
- adverb
- hoĺlow·ness
- noun
