pit 1 (p?t)n.1. A natural or artificial hole or cavity in the ground.2. a. An excavation for the removal of mineral deposits; a mine.b. The shaft of a mine.3. A concealed hole in the ground used as a trap; a pitfall.4. A small indentation in a surface: pits in a windshield.5. a. A natural hollow or depression in the body or an organ.b. A small indented scar left in the skin by smallpox or other eruptive disease; a pockmark.c. Zoology Either of a pair of depressions between the nostril and the eye of a pit viper that contain heat-sensing organs.d. Botany A cavity in the wall of a plant cell where there is no secondary wall, as in fibers, tracheids, and vessel elements.e. Informal An armpit.6. An enclosed, usually sunken area in which animals, such as dogs or gamecocks, are placed for fighting.7. a. The section directly in front of and below the stage of a theater, in which the musicians sit.b. Chiefly British The ground floor of a theater behind the stalls.8. a. The section of an exchange where trading in a specific commodity is carried on.b. The gambling area of a casino.9. a. A sunken area in a garage floor from which mechanics may work on cars.b. often pits Sports An area beside an auto racecourse where cars may be refueled or serviced during a race: pulled into the pits to have the tires rotated.10. a. Hell. Used with the.b. A miserable or depressing place or situation.c. pits Slang The worst. Used with the: “New York politics are the pits” (Washington Star).11. Football The middle areas of the defensive and offensive lines.v. pit·ted, pit·ting, pits v.tr.1. To mark with cavities, depressions, or scars: a surface pitted with craters.2. To set in direct opposition or competition: a war that pitted brother against brother.3. To place, bury, or store in a pit.v.intr.1. To become marked with pits.2. To retain an impression after being indented. Used of the skin.3. To stop at a refueling area during an auto race.[Middle English, from Old English pytt, ultimately from Latin puteus, well; see pau- in Indo-European roots.]pit 2 (p?t)n. The single central kernel or stone of certain fruits, such as a peach or cherry.tr.v. pit·ted, pit·ting, pits To extract the pit from (a fruit).[Dutch, from Middle Dutch.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.pit (p?t) n1. a large, usually deep opening in the ground2. (Mining & Quarrying) a. a mine or excavation with a shaft, esp for coalb. the shaft in a minec. (as modifier): pit pony; pit prop. 3. a concealed danger or difficulty4. (Ecclesiastical Terms) the pit hell5. (Theatre) Also called: orchestra pit the area that is occupied by the orchestra in a theatre, located in front of the stage6. (General Sporting Terms) an enclosure for fighting animals or birds, esp gamecocks7. (Anatomy) anatomy a. a small natural depression on the surface of a body, organ, structure, or part; fossab. the floor of any natural bodily cavity: the pit of the stomach. 8. (Pathology) pathol a small indented scar at the site of a former pustule; pockmark9. (Botany) any of various small areas in a plant cell wall that remain unthickened when the rest of the cell becomes lignified, esp the vascular tissue10. (Motor Racing) a working area at the side of a motor-racing track for servicing or refuelling vehicles11. (Stock Exchange) a section on the floor of a commodity exchange devoted to a special line of trading12. (Card Games) a rowdy card game in which players bid for commodities13. (Athletics (Track & Field)) an area of sand or other soft material at the end of a long-jump approach, behind the bar of a pole vault, etc, on which an athlete may land safely14. (Theatre) the ground floor of the auditorium of a theatre15. Brit a slang word for bed1, bedroom116. (Hunting) another word for pitfall2vb, pits, pitting or pitted17. (often foll by: against) to match in opposition, esp as antagonists18. (Pathology) to mark or become marked with pits19. (tr) to place or bury in a pit[Old English pytt, from Latin puteus; compare Old French pet, Old High German pfuzzi]pit (p?t) n (Plants) the stone of a cherry, plum, etcvb, pits, pitting or pitted (Cookery) (tr) to extract the stone from (a fruit)[C19: from Dutch: kernel; compare pith]pit (p?t) vb a Scot word for putCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014pit1 (p?t) n., v. pit?ted, pit?ting. n. 1. a hole or cavity in the ground. 2. a covered or concealed excavation in the ground, serving as a trap. 3. a. an excavation made in exploring for or removing a mineral deposit, as by open-cut methods. b. the shaft of a coal mine. c. the mine itself. 4. the abode of evil spirits and lost souls; hell. 5. the pits, Slang. an extremely unpleasant or depressing place, condition, etc. 6. a hollow or indentation in a surface. 7. a natural hollow or depression in the body: the pit of the back; hit in the pit of his stomach. 8. pockmark. 9. an enclosure for staging fights, esp. between dogs or cocks. 10. a place where slam dances are performed. 11. a part of the floor of a commodity exchange where trading in a particular commodity takes place. 12. a. all that part of the main floor of a theater behind the musicians. b. orchestra (def. 2a). 13. an area at the side of a racing track, for servicing and refueling the cars. v.t. 14. to mark or indent with pits or depressions. 15. to scar with pockmarks. 16. to place or bury in a pit, as for storage. 17. to set in opposition or combat, as one against another. 18. to put (animals) in a pit for fighting. v.i. 19. to become marked with pits or depressions. 20. (of body tissue) to retain temporarily a mark of pressure, as by a finger. [before 900; Middle English; Old English pytt