pit

Pit is a term with multiple related meanings across geography, geology, horticulture, and culture. In its broad sense, a pit is a hollow or cavity in the ground. Natural pits form through weathering, erosion, collapse, or volcanic activity and may appear as depressions, sinkholes, craters, or ponds. Some pits fill with water and become small lakes, while others remain dry.

In mining and construction, a pit denotes an open excavation from which rock, ore, or other material is extracted. Open-pit mines and quarries are common methods for large-scale extraction and can extend deeply into the earth.

In botany and horticulture, the term pit commonly refers to the seed or stone inside a drupe or stone fruit, such as a peach, plum, or cherry. The word is also used to describe small cavities in plant tissue that permit fluid movement, notably in xylem cells.

In cultural contexts, the term often refers to the orchestra pit, a sunken space in front of the stage where musicians perform during plays or musical productions. A pit latrine is another usage, denoting a simple underground toilet.

In metallurgy and materials science, pits are small indentations formed by pitting corrosion, a localized attack that creates tiny holes on metal surfaces. The word can also appear in idiomatic phrases, though these usages pertain more to language than a distinct sense of the physical or functional pit.