n. A hole or cavity in the ground, whether natural or made by digging.n. Specificallyn. An excavation or hole in the ground, covered or otherwise concealed, for snaring wild beasts; a pitfall.n. A hole dug in the soil of a potato-or turnip-field, for storing potatoes, etc., during the winter. The vegetables stored are usually piled up to some height and covered with earth to keep out the frost.n. In horticulture, an excavation in the soil, generally covered by a glazed frame, for protecting tender plants, or for propagation.n. In founding, a cavity scooped in the floor to receive cast-metal.n. The shaft of a coal-mine, or the mine itself.n. A vat, such as is used in tanning, bleaching, dyeing, etc.n. A cavity or depression in the body: as, the pit of the stomach; the armpits.n. A very small depression or dent, such as that left on the flesh by a pustule of the small-pox; a dimple.n. In botany, one of the pores or thin places in the more or less lignified cell-walls of many plants.n. A hollow or cup.n. A deep place; a gulf; an abyss.n. The abode of evil spirits; hell.n. An inclosed place or area for the exhibition of combats of dogs or cocks, or where dogs are trained or exhibited in killing rats: as, a dog-pit; a cock pit.n. That part of a theater which is on the floor of the house, somewhat below the level of the stage; and behind the usual station of the musicians.n. Those who occupy the pit in a theater; the people in the pit.n. That part of the floor of an exchange where a special kind of business is carried on: as, a grain-pit; a provision-pit.n. The cockpit of a ship.n. The framework in a belfry which supports the pivoted yoke of a swinging bell.To catch, lay, or bury in a pit.To form a little pit or hollow in; mark with little dents, as by the pustules of the smallpox.To impress with rounded cup-like hollows, as the mold for a metal casting which is to have rounded bosses on it.To put or set in the pit or area for fighting; match as contestants or opponents, one against another, as dogs or cocks: used figuratively of any competitors: generally followed by against.To become marked or spotted with pits or depressions; retain the mark of pressure by or as by the fingers: as, in dropsy the skin pits on pressure.n. The stone of a fruit, as of a cherry or plum.A Middle English and Scotch form of put.n. A cavity in the side of the head, between the eye and nostril, found in the poisonous snakes of the subfamily Crotalinæ, whence their name of pit-vipers. This pit is lined with membrane supplied with branches from the trigeminal nerve, but its exact function is not known. See cut under pit-viper