English Reference
Noun

manhole

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈmænˌhoʊɫ/ UK /mˈænhəʊl/ man·hole UK spelling manholes

n.a round opening in the ground that leads to a tunnel or pipe. It is usually covered by a heavy metal plate so people can walk or drive over it safely.

n.a round opening in the ground, typically covered by a heavy metal plate, providing access to underground utility tunnels or sewers.


SIMPLE

The workers are fixing the broken manhole cover.

CONTEXTUAL

The city workers had to close the street because they were repairing a damaged manhole in the middle of the road.

COMPLEX

During the heavy storm, the manhole cover was blown across the intersection, creating a significant hazard for both pedestrians and emergency vehicles attempting to navigate the flooded area.


From man + hole.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated