[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pothole/)

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# pothole

noun (a pothole, potholes)

«pothole» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A hole in the surface of a road or path, made by weather and traffic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#m1)
2. A deep hole or cave in rock, often made by water, that people may climb down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#m2)
3. (informal) A hidden problem that could cause trouble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life potholes damage bikes and cars, so cyclists must watch for them, especially when puddles hide them. Councils fill potholes. «Potholing» (UK) is exploring caves. Phrases: «hit a pothole», «fill in a pothole», «avoid the potholes».

### Examples

- Dad's car hit a pothole and the tyre went flat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#x1)
- Watch out for potholes when you ride your bike. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#x2)
- The pothole filled with rain and looked like a puddle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#x3)
- The council finally fixed the potholes on our street. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#x4)
- The explorers climbed down a deep pothole in the hills. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#x5)
- There are a few potholes in the plan, but we can fix them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#x6)
- My scooter wobbled when it hit a pothole. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/#x7)

### Note

Countable, one word. A «pothole» on roads is common in UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ and Ireland. Safety: a puddle can hide a deep pothole, so ride around puddles carefully. «Potholing» (caving) is mainly British; Americans say «caving» or «spelunking».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pothole» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pothole/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pothole» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pothole.html) on Mova free.