1. A sizeable hole (usually in the ground)
   "they dug a pit to bury the body";
   - cavity
    
2. A concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical depression)
   "The doctor examined the pit in the patient's elbow";
   - fossa
    
3. A surface excavation for extracting stone or slate
   "The ancient stone pit provided evidence of early mining techniques";
   - quarry, stone pit
    
4. A workplace consisting of a coal mine plus all the buildings and equipment connected with it
   "The old pit has been converted into a mining museum";
   - colliery
    
5. A trap in the form of a concealed hole
   "The explorers carefully avoided the camouflaged pits in the jungle floor";
   - pitfall
    
6. (auto racing) an area at the side of a racetrack where the race cars are serviced and refueled
   "The driver made a quick pit stop to change tires"
    
7. Lowered area in front of a stage where an orchestra accompanies the performers
   "The conductor led the musicians in the orchestra pit, carefully coordinating with the singers on stage";
   - orchestra pit
    
8. An enclosure in which animals are made to fight
   "The authorities raided an illegal dog fighting pit"
    
9. (commodity exchange) the part of the floor of a commodity exchange where trading in a particular commodity is carried on
   "The wheat futures pit was bustling with activity"
    
10. The hard inner (usually woody) layer of the pericarp of some fruits (as peaches, plums, cherries or olives) that contains the seed
    "you should remove the pits from prunes before cooking"; "The endocarp of a peach forms the hard pit around the seed";
    - stone, endocarp
     
11. (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment
    "a demon from the depths of the pit";
    - Hell, perdition, Inferno, infernal region, nether region

1. Set into opposition or rivalry
   "pit a chess player against the Russian champion";
   - oppose, match, play off
    
2. Remove the pits from
   "pit plums and cherries";
   - stone
    
3. Mark with a scar
   "The skin disease pitted his face permanently";
   - scar, mark, pock

Derived forms: pitting, pitted, pits

Type of: area, blemish, bodily cavity, cavity, cavum, concave shape, concavity, confront, deface, disfigure, enclosure, excavation, face, fictitious place, hole, hollow, imaginary place, incurvation, incurvature, mythical place, pericarp, remove, seed vessel, take, take away, trap, withdraw, work, workplace

Part of: commodities exchange, commodities market, commodity exchange, house, theater [US], theatre

Encyclopedia: Pit