pit
UK: pɪt | US: pɪt
n. a natural or artificial hole or cavity in the ground
n. a sunken area or scar, especially on a surface (e.g., "a pit in the skin")
vt. to set in competition or opposition (e.g., "pit one against another")
vt. to remove the stone from a fruit (e.g., "to pit a cherry")
The word "pit" originates from Old English pytt, meaning "hole, well, or cavity," derived from Proto-Germanic puttjaz. Its meaning has remained remarkably consistent, referring to hollow spaces in the ground or surfaces. The verb forms (e.g., "to pit cherries") emerged later by analogy with creating hollows or removing cores.
The miners descended into the dark pit to extract coal.
Small pits marked the surface of the old wooden table.
The competition pitted two rival companies against each other.
She pitted the olives before adding them to the salad.
A pit formed in the road after heavy rains eroded the soil.