hueco

Hueco is a Spanish noun and adjective meaning hollow, hollow space, cavity, or opening. In everyday use, hueco refers to a void in a solid object, such as a hole in a wall, a recess in architecture, or a pocket in rock. The term is also used figuratively to indicate a free space or opening in schedules or plans, as in hacer hueco or tener un hueco en la agenda.

In architecture, engineering, and construction, hueco describes a hollow space within a structure that may accommodate components, ventilation, or light. In geology and mining, the word can denote natural or artificial cavities, voids, or hollows in rock, soil, or mine workings.

Hueco also appears in toponyms and site names. The best-known example in North America is Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site near El Paso, Texas. The area is named for the many hollowed rock formations that characterize the landscape and is noted for its prehistoric petroglyphs as well as its modern climbing culture.

In climbing and bouldering, a hueco is a pocket-like indentation in a rock surface that serves as a hold. Huecos are particularly associated with certain limestone terrains and can vary in size from small finger pockets to large openings.

The word hueco derives from Spanish and is widely used in Spanish-speaking regions to describe any hollow or open space, as well as in technical contexts to denote cavities, gaps, or openings in objects and structures.