[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pit/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / pit # pit noun (a pit, pits); verb (pit, pits, pitted, pitting) «pit» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A pit is a large hole in the ground, dug by people or made naturally. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m1) 2. A pit is a coal mine (UK). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m2) 3. (US, Canada) A pit is the hard stone in the middle of some fruits, like a peach or cherry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m3) 4. In motor racing, the pits are the place beside the track where cars stop for fuel and new tyres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m4) 5. (slang, UK) A very messy room or place can be called a pit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m5) 6. To pit one person against another is to make them compete or fight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m6) 7. The pit of your stomach is the deep inside of your belly, where you feel fear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m7) 8. Pit can also mean the hollow place under your arm, the armpit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#m8) ### In the lessons In history lessons pits are coal mines where miners (and once even children) worked; in science, pits and craters form in rock and on the Moon. In stories a pit can be a trap, and in the Bible Joseph's brothers threw him into a pit. In everyday life, "the pits" means the very worst. Phrases: "fire pit", "sand pit", "orchestra pit", "the pits", "a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach", "pit against". ### Examples - The workers dug a deep pit for the new pond. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x1) - (Bible) Joseph's brothers threw him into a dry pit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x2) - My great-grandad worked down the pit in Wales. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x3) - (US) Be careful not to swallow the cherry pit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x4) - The racing car came into the pits for new tyres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x5) - The final pitted our school against last year's champions. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x6) - I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach before the test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x7) - (informal) Losing the match in the last minute was the pits. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x8) - (slang, UK) Your bedroom is a total pit — tidy it! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x9) - “Here, in my left arm-pit,” answered he. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/#x10) ### Note Countable noun: a pit, pits. Past of the verb: pitted (double t). A "pitted" olive has had its stone removed; "pitted" skin or metal has many small holes. In British English the fruit centre is usually a "stone", in American English a "pit". "The pits" (plural, informal) means terrible. ## In Jewish tradition The pit where Joseph was cast was empty, with no water in it. The psalmists speak of being saved from "the pit", meaning death. **Interpretation.** The rabbis noted that the pit was empty of water but, they say, held snakes and scorpions; the law says whoever digs a pit must pay if an animal falls in. ### Examples - And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. (Torah GEN.37.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pit/#x1) - and they took him, and cast him into the pit — and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. (Torah GEN.37.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pit/#x2) - the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money unto the owner of them, and the dead beast shall be his. (Torah EXO.21.34, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pit/#x3) - For they have digged a pit for my soul. (Prophets JER.18.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pit/#x4) - Terror and the pit are come upon us, desolation and destruction. (Writings LAM.3.47, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pit/#x5) - That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit. (Writings PSA.49.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pit/#x6) ### Note Countable noun: a pit, pits. Past of the verb: pitted (double t). A "pitted" olive has had its stone removed; "pitted" skin or metal has many small holes. In British English the fruit centre is usually a "stone", in American English a "pit". "The pits" (plural, informal) means terrible. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «pit» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pit/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«pit» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pit.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «pit» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pit/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«pit» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pit.html) on Mova free.