# mole

/ˈmoʊɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mole
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. animal

noun · CEFR A2

a small, dark-furred animal that lives underground and digs tunnels.

For teachers: a small, insectivorous mammal of the family Talpidae, adapted to a subterranean lifestyle with powerful forelimbs for digging.

- The gardener was upset because a mole had made holes all over the lawn.
- Moles are often considered pests by farmers because their extensive tunneling systems can damage the root structures of young crops.

### 2. on the skin

noun · CEFR B1

a small, dark, permanent mark on a person's skin.

For teachers: a pigmented, typically slightly raised spot on the human skin, medically known as a melanocytic naevus.

- She went to the doctor to check a new mole on her shoulder.
- Dermatologists recommend monitoring any mole that changes shape or colour, as this can be an early indicator of skin cancer.

### 3. a spy

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a spy who works inside an organisation to steal secrets for an enemy.

For teachers: an agent who joins an enemy organisation to gather intelligence and betray secrets from within over a long period.

- The police suspected there was a mole in the department leaking information to criminals.
- The intelligence agency spent years trying to identify the mole who had been compromising their overseas operations since the late nineties.

### 4. chemistry unit

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a scientific unit used to measure the amount of a substance.

For teachers: the SI base unit for the amount of substance, defined as containing exactly 6.02214076×10²³ elementary entities.

- In chemistry class, we learned how to calculate the number of moles in a liquid.
- To determine the precise concentration of the solution, the researcher first calculated the number of moles of solute present in the sample.

### 5. sauce

noun · CEFR B2

a type of spicy Mexican sauce, often made with chili and chocolate.

For teachers: a traditional Mexican sauce or marinade made from a complex mixture of chillies, spices, and sometimes unsweetened chocolate.

- We ordered chicken with mole sauce at the new Mexican restaurant.
- 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.

### 6. nautical structure

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a large stone wall built in the sea to protect a port from waves.

For teachers: a massive stone structure, such as a breakwater or pier, designed to protect a harbour from the force of the sea.

- The ships stayed safe inside the harbour behind the thick stone mole.
- The ancient port was protected by a massive mole that extended several hundred metres into the bay, shielding the fleet from northern gales.

### 7. insult

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar · Dialect

a very rude and mean word for a woman.

For teachers: a highly derogatory and offensive term for a woman, primarily used in Australian and New Zealand English.

- He got into trouble for calling the woman a mole during the argument.
- The use of the term 'mole' as a gendered slur is considered extremely offensive in contemporary Australian social contexts.

Teaching tip: This is a regional slur found in Australia and New Zealand; learners should avoid using it as it is highly offensive.

## Examples

- The doctor checked the mole on my arm to make sure it was healthy.
- A mole had ruined the garden by digging long tunnels under the lawn and pushing up piles of dirt.
- While most moles are benign skin growths, any change in their symmetry or colour should be evaluated by a dermatologist to rule out malignancy.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.