Pit - Definition

n 1: a sizeable hole (usually in the ground); "they dug a pit to
bury the body" [syn: pit, cavity]
2: a concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical
depression) [syn: pit, fossa]
3: the hard inner (usually woody) layer of the pericarp of some
fruits (as peaches or plums or cherries or olives) that
contains the seed; "you should remove the stones from prunes
before cooking" [syn: stone, pit, endocarp]
4: (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil;
where sinners suffer eternal punishment; "Hurl'd
headlong...To bottomless perdition, there to dwell"- John
Milton; "a demon from the depths of the pit"; "Hell is paved
with good intentions"-Dr. Johnson [syn: Hell, perdition,
Inferno, infernal region, nether region, pit] [ant:
Heaven]
5: an enclosure in which animals are made to fight
6: (commodity exchange) the part of the floor of a commodity
exchange where trading in a particular commodity is carried
on
7: (auto racing) an area at the side of a racetrack where the
race cars are serviced and refueled
8: a trap in the form of a concealed hole [syn: pit,
pitfall]
9: a surface excavation for extracting stone or slate; "a
British term for `quarry' is `stone pit'" [syn: pit,
quarry, stone pit]
10: lowered area in front of a stage where an orchestra
accompanies the performers [syn: orchestra pit, pit]
11: a workplace consisting of a coal mine plus all the buildings
and equipment connected with it [syn: colliery, pit]
v 1: set into opposition or rivalry; "let them match their best
athletes against ours"; "pit a chess player against the
Russian champion"; "He plays his two children off against
each other" [syn: pit, oppose, match, play off]
2: mark with a scar; "The skin disease scarred his face
permanently" [syn: scar, mark, pock, pit]
3: remove the pits from; "pit plums and cherries" [syn: pit,
stone]