Words / B2

HOL-oh/ˈhɒləʊ/

Hollow means empty inside, or sounding empty; also a claim or victory without real worth; as a noun, a small valley: a hollow tree; a hollow victory. Empty is the everyday twin; void is more formal. A hollow tree featured in the habitat survey. Mix-up: hallo / hello; hallow (to make holy). Do not write hollow for a solid metal cylinder in the practical.

Meaning

Empty inside, or sounding empty; also a claim or victory without real worth; as a noun, a small valley.

Examples

• “A hollow tree featured in the habitat survey; a hollow claim still needs a figure.”
• “A hollow in the hillside featured on the OS map, which is the small-valley sense.”

Good to know

a hollow tree / sound / victory / claim; a hollow (noun). Everyday: empty. Trap: hello / hallow. Biology, geography, and evaluations. Empty inside, without real worth, or a small valley — specify.

Near in meaning

empty, void, sunken

New