From Middle English holow, holowe, holwe, holwȝ, holgh, from Old English holh (“a hollow”), from Proto-West Germanic *holh, from Proto-Germanic *hulwiją, from Proto-Germanic *hulaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, hide”). Cognate with Old High German huliwa and hulwa, Middle High German hülwe. Related to hole.
Meanings
A small valley between mountains.
He built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Rockies.
c. 1710–20, Matthew Prior, The First Hymn Of Callimachus: To Jupiter
Forests grew upon the barren hollows.
This road leads through a sandy hollow shaded by trees for about a quarter of a mile, where it crosses the bridge famous in goblin story, and just beyond swells the green knoll on which stands the whitewashed church. 1820 March 5, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number VI, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, pages 110–111:
I hate the dreadful hollow behind the little wood, / Its lips in the field above are dabbled with blood-red heath, / The red-ribb'd hedges drip with a silent horror of blood, / And Echo there, whatever is ask'd her, answers 'Death.' 1855, Alfred Tennyson, “Maud”, in Maud, and Other Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, part I, stanza 1, page 1:
[T]his is lonesome country; and here in the swamplike hollows where tiger lilies bloom the size of a man's head, there are luminous green logs that shine under the dark marsh water like drowned corpses ..." 1948, Truman Capote, Other Voices, Other Rooms, Part One, 1:
A sunken area on a surface.
He held the chick in the hollow of his hand.
An unfilled space in something solid; a cavity, natural or artificial.
el κενό (feeling of emptiness) · kum оюкъ (sunken area) · fi notko (small valley) · es depresión (sunken area) · ru дупло́ (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · it cavità (sunken area) · cy pant (sunken area) · de Mulde (sunken area) · sv dalsänka (small valley) · mi whārua (sunken area) · fr creux (small valley) · fi loukko (sunken area) · ru по́лость (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · fi onkalo (sunken area) · el κουφάλα (sunken area) · pt depressão (sunken area) · bg коруба (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · mi pārō (sunken area) · ja 虚脱感 (feeling of emptiness) · ru углубле́ние (sunken area) · de Höhle (sunken area) · gl fondal (sunken area) · ru каве́рна (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · tr çukur (sunken area) · pt caivanca (sunken area) · es hueco (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · nl laagte (sunken area) · el λαγκαδιά (small valley) · de Senke (small valley) · hi खालीपन (feeling of emptiness) · de Kuhle (sunken area) · pt oco (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · el λαγκάδι (small valley) · de kleines Tal (small valley) · fi onkalo (feeling of emptiness) · de Mulde (small valley) · ota چوقور (small valley) · ro scobitură (sunken area) · sv grop (small valley) · es casco (sunken area) · alt ойык (sunken area) · hi शून्यता (feeling of emptiness) · sv tomhet (feeling of emptiness) · grc λάκκος (small valley) · lt duobė (sunken area) · lv dobums (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · ro scorbură (sunken area) · es copa (sunken area) · tr boşluk (feeling of emptiness) · pl nizina (sunken area) · gd sloc (sunken area) · gl caivanca (small valley) · ga easca (sunken area) · mi whāwhārua (sunken area) · mi pokorua (sunken area) · ru пустота́ (feeling of emptiness) · tr kovuk (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · fr cuvette (small valley) · nn hòl (sunken area) · da gryden (small valley) · de Vertiefung (sunken area) · uk пу́стка (feeling of emptiness) · es hondonada (sunken area) · lt dauba (sunken area) · tr oyuk (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · ro gol (feeling of emptiness) · gl caivanca (sunken area) · de Loch (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · ru низи́на (sunken area) · cs prázdnota (feeling of emptiness) · pdt Hollinj (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · ky оюк (sunken area) · nb grop (sunken area) · el λαγκάδα (small valley) · ga cuasán (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · uk пустота́ (feeling of emptiness) · pt vazio (feeling of emptiness) · ga cuas (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · ru я́ма (sunken area) · bg падина (small valley) · el κοιλότητα (sunken area) · sv sänka (small valley) · ru вы́емка (sunken area) · pdt Hollinj (sunken area) · ru вы́боина (sunken area) · cs dutina (sunken area) · cmn 窪地 /洼地 (sunken area) · ka ღრუ (sunken area) · lt įduba (sunken area) · lv dobums (sunken area) · gld онголо (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · sv ravin (small valley) · ba ҡыуыш (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · pl pustka (feeling of emptiness) · nn grop (sunken area) · cy pant (small valley) · ro adâncitură (sunken area) · fr creux (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · sv grop (sunken area) · aa hollow (feeling of emptiness) · hu odú (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · sq sqetull (small valley) · tr çukur (small valley) · es hueco (feeling of emptiness) · ota چوقور (sunken area) · bg вдлъбнатина (sunken area) · gl valigoto (small valley) · ja 窪地 (sunken area) · el βαθούλωμα (sunken area) · nb hull (sunken area) · fi ontelo (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · ja むなしい (feeling of emptiness) · sv saknad (feeling of emptiness) · sv hål (sunken area) · fi kuoppa (sunken area) · non dalr (small valley) · hi गड्ढा (sunken area) · hi छेद (unfilled space in something solid; a cavity — see also cavity, hole) · pl niecka (sunken area) · fa گود (sunken area) · ru впа́дина (sunken area) · cs prohlubeň (sunken area) · es vacío (feeling of emptiness)
From Middle English holow, holowe, holwe, holwȝ, holgh, from Old English holh (“a hollow”), from Proto-West Germanic *holh, from Proto-Germanic *hulwiją, from Proto-Germanic *hulaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, hide”). Cognate with Old High German huliwa and hulwa, Middle High German hülwe. Related to hole.
Meanings
(transitive) to make a hole in something; to excavate
From Middle English holowe, holwe, holuȝ, holgh, from the noun (see above).
Meanings
(of something solid) Having an empty space or cavity inside.
a hollow tree; a hollow sphere
(of a sound) Distant, eerie; echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space; dull, muffled; often low-pitched.
He let out a hollow moan.
Through thy battlements, Newstead, the hollow winds whistle: 1903, George Gordon Byron, On Leaving Newstead Abbey:
(figuratively) Without substance; having no real or significant worth; meaningless.
a hollow victory
(figuratively) Insincere, devoid of validity; specious.
a hollow promise
"Hey, if anything happens to that, my ass is grass," Y.T. says. She's trying to sound tough and brave, but it's a hollow act in these circumstances. 2011, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, Penguin Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 170:
Concave; gaunt; sunken.
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
Pertaining to hollow body position
Synonym of empty (“lacking between the onset of tasting and the finish”).
While most 1974s remain hard, tannic, hollow wines lacking ripeness, flesh, and character, a number of the Graves estates did produce surprisingly spicy, interesting wines. 2002, Robert M. Parker (Jr.), Pierre-Antoine Rovani, Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide (page 175)
lt tuščiaviduris (having an empty space inside) · ht kre (having an empty space inside) · te డొల్ల (without substance) · sv tom (without substance) · mr पोकळ (having an empty space inside) · el κούφιος (having an empty space inside) · lv tukšs (having an empty space inside) · ml പൊള്ളയായ (having an empty space inside) · nn hol (without substance) · nb hul (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · th กลวง (having an empty space inside) · grc κοῖλος (having an empty space inside) · es falso (without substance) · gl foco (having an empty space inside) · gd falamh (having an empty space inside) · fa کاواک (having an empty space inside) · nb hul (having an empty space inside) · bg кух (having an empty space inside) · uk пустопорожній (having an empty space inside) · nb innhul (having an empty space inside) · mi kaiwaka (having an empty space inside) · es vano (having an empty space inside) · fr insignifiant (without substance) · fi ontto (without substance) · he רֵיק (having an empty space inside) · nn innhol (having an empty space inside) · gl buxán (having an empty space inside) · es sordo (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · nl leeg (without substance) · yi פּוסט (without substance) · gl van (having an empty space inside) · sv ihålig (having an empty space inside) · arn trotrol (having an empty space inside) · fi ontto (having an empty space inside) · nb dyp (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · be по́лы (having an empty space inside) · pt oco (having an empty space inside) · te డొల్ల (having an empty space inside) · cy cau (having an empty space inside) · fa توخالی (having an empty space inside) · fr creux (having an empty space inside) · te బోలు (having an empty space inside) · fr creux (without substance) · ja 空っぽ (having an empty space inside) · gl van (without substance) · de hohl (having an empty space inside) · el κοίλος (having an empty space inside) · yi ליידיק (having an empty space inside) · gl oco (having an empty space inside) · es orondo (having an empty space inside) · cmn 空心 (having an empty space inside) · vo kevöfik (having an empty space inside) · txb tronktse (having an empty space inside) · gd falamh (without substance) · ru бессодержа́тельный (without substance) · te శుష్క (without substance) · nn hol (having an empty space inside) · ka ცარიელი (having an empty space inside) · tr boş (without substance) · eo kava (having an empty space inside) · ba эсе буш (having an empty space inside) · ja 空洞の (having an empty space inside) · ja 不誠実な (without substance) · ja くぼんだ (having an empty space inside) · da hul (without substance) · la cavus (having an empty space inside) · gd falamh (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · ur کھوکھلا (having an empty space inside) · cmn 空虛 /空虚 (without substance) · pt vazio (having an empty space inside) · pl pusty (without substance) · uk пусти́й (having an empty space inside) · la vacuus (having an empty space inside) · kw kow (having an empty space inside) · pa ਥੋਥਾ (having an empty space inside) · tr oyuk (having an empty space inside) · sa शून्यमध्य (having an empty space inside) · fa کرو (having an empty space inside) · tl bamban (having an empty space inside) · cmn 空 (having an empty space inside) · cs dutý (having an empty space inside) · it vacuo (without substance) · es ahuecado (having an empty space inside) · nn djup (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · cs nesmyslný (without substance) · ru по́лый (having an empty space inside) · ro găunos (having an empty space inside) · vi rỗng (having an empty space inside) · mk шуплив (having an empty space inside) · ckb بۆش (having an empty space inside) · ltg tukšs (having an empty space inside) · bg безсъдържателен (without substance) · uk лунки́й (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · fa ونگ (having an empty space inside) · nb hul (without substance) · sa सुषिर (having an empty space inside) · be пусты́ (having an empty space inside) · lt tuščias (having an empty space inside) · fr vide (having an empty space inside) · uk празний (without substance) · fi ontto (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · ru пусто́й (having an empty space inside) · da hul (having an empty space inside) · cmn 中空 (having an empty space inside) · lb huel (having an empty space inside) · nb hol (having an empty space inside) · it cavo (having an empty space inside) · uk беззмістовний (without substance) · es hueco (having an empty space inside) · ca balmat (having an empty space inside) · ar أَجْوَف (having an empty space inside) · bg празен (without substance) · yi הויל (having an empty space inside) · yi פּוסט (having an empty space inside) · uk поро́жній (having an empty space inside) · fa پوک (having an empty space inside) · sa रिक्त (having an empty space inside) · ru поро́жний (having an empty space inside) · nl hol (having an empty space inside) · ru глухо́й (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · cs prázdný (without substance) · ru пусто́й (without substance) · hi खोखला (having an empty space inside) · ca buit (having an empty space inside) · tr oyuklu (having an empty space inside) · es hundido (having an empty space inside) · ml പൊള്ള (having an empty space inside) · el κούφιος (without substance) · pl głuchy (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · ro gol (having an empty space inside) · ja こもった (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · ba ҡыуыш (having an empty space inside) · cs bezobsažný (without substance) · pl pusty (having an empty space inside) · he חָלוּל (having an empty space inside) · sa शून्य (having an empty space inside) · pa ਖੋਖਲਾ (having an empty space inside) · ja 虚ろの (having an empty space inside) · et õõnes (having an empty space inside) · uk пустопорожній (without substance) · ja 中空の (having an empty space inside) · es hueco (without substance) · es resonante (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · la cassus (having an empty space inside) · tr delikli (having an empty space inside) · ltg dīks (having an empty space inside) · ja 空虚な (without substance) · ckb ھڵۆڵ (having an empty space inside) · nn hol (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · da dyb (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · ml പൊള്ളയായ (without substance) · el υπόκωφος (echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space) · pt vão (without substance) · uk пустий (without substance) · la inanis (having an empty space inside)
[T]he Converſation (if it may be called ſo) was ſeldom ſuch as could entertain a Lady. It conſiſted chiefly of Hollowing, Singing, Relations of ſporting Adventures, B—d—y, and Abuſe of Women and of the Government. 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter IV, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume III, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, page 26:
This made Jill pout,
And she ran out,
And Jack did quickly follow,
They rode dog Ball,
Jill got a fall
How Jack did laugh and hollow. 1810, Jack and Jill, and old Dame Gill, York: J. Kendrew, page 5:
He has hollowed the hounds. 1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC: