mole
- 01 A2 Elementary
a small, dark-furred animal that lives underground and digs tunnels.
a small, insectivorous mammal of the family Talpidae, adapted to a subterranean lifestyle with powerful forelimbs for digging.
Simple“The gardener was upset because a mole had made holes all over the lawn.”
In context“Moles are often considered pests by farmers because their extensive tunneling systems can damage the root structures of young crops.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a small, dark, permanent mark on a person's skin.
a pigmented, typically slightly raised spot on the human skin, medically known as a melanocytic naevus.
Simple“She went to the doctor to check a new mole on her shoulder.”
In context“Dermatologists recommend monitoring any mole that changes shape or colour, as this can be an early indicator of skin cancer.”
Synonymsbirthmarknaevus - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a spy who works inside an organisation to steal secrets for an enemy.
an agent who joins an enemy organisation to gather intelligence and betray secrets from within over a long period.
Simple“The police suspected there was a mole in the department leaking information to criminals.”
In context“The intelligence agency spent years trying to identify the mole who had been compromising their overseas operations since the late nineties.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
a scientific unit used to measure the amount of a substance.
the SI base unit for the amount of substance, defined as containing exactly 6.02214076×10²³ elementary entities.
Simple“In chemistry class, we learned how to calculate the number of moles in a liquid.”
In context“To determine the precise concentration of the solution, the researcher first calculated the number of moles of solute present in the sample.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
a type of spicy Mexican sauce, often made with chili and chocolate.
a traditional Mexican sauce or marinade made from a complex mixture of chillies, spices, and sometimes unsweetened chocolate.
Simple“We ordered chicken with mole sauce at the new Mexican restaurant.”
In context“The chef prepared a traditional mole poblano, which requires a lengthy simmering process to balance the heat of the peppers with the richness of the cocoa.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
a large stone wall built in the sea to protect a port from waves.
a massive stone structure, such as a breakwater or pier, designed to protect a harbour from the force of the sea.
Simple“The ships stayed safe inside the harbour behind the thick stone mole.”
In context“The ancient port was protected by a massive mole that extended several hundred metres into the bay, shielding the fleet from northern gales.”
- 07 C2 Proficiency
a very rude and mean word for a woman.
a highly derogatory and offensive term for a woman, primarily used in Australian and New Zealand English.
Simple“He got into trouble for calling the woman a mole during the argument.”
In context“The use of the term 'mole' as a gendered slur is considered extremely offensive in contemporary Australian social contexts.”
Teacher's tipThis is a regional slur found in Australia and New Zealand; learners should avoid using it as it is highly offensive.
From Latin mola (“mill”), or otherwise a back-formation from Molesey (“Mul's Island”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.