Definition of pit

• n. - A large cavity or hole in the ground, either natural or artificial; a cavity in the surface of a body; an indentation
• n. - The shaft of a coal mine; a coal pit.
• n. - A large hole in the ground from which material is dug or quarried; as, a stone pit; a gravel pit; or in which material is made by burning; as, a lime pit; a charcoal pit.
• n. - A vat sunk in the ground; as, a tan pit.
• n. - Any abyss; especially, the grave, or hades.
• n. - A covered deep hole for entrapping wild beasts; a pitfall; hence, a trap; a snare. Also used figuratively.
• n. - A depression or hollow in the surface of the human body
• n. - The hollow place under the shoulder or arm; the axilla, or armpit.
• n. - See Pit of the stomach (below).
• n. - The indentation or mark left by a pustule, as in smallpox.
• n. - Formerly, that part of a theater, on the floor of the house, below the level of the stage and behind the orchestra; now, in England, commonly the part behind the stalls; in the United States, the parquet; also, the occupants of such a part of a theater.
• n. - An inclosed area into which gamecocks, dogs, and other animals are brought to fight, or where dogs are trained to kill rats.
• n. - The endocarp of a drupe, and its contained seed or seeds; a stone; as, a peach pit; a cherry pit, etc.
• n. - A depression or thin spot in the wall of a duct.
• v. t. - To place or put into a pit or hole.
• v. t. - To mark with little hollows, as by various pustules; as, a face pitted by smallpox.
• v. t. - To introduce as an antagonist; to set forward for or in a contest; as, to pit one dog against another.