—adj.
1 a having a hole or cavity inside; not solid throughout. b having a depression; sunken (hollow cheeks).
2 (of a sound) echoing, as though made in or on a hollow container.
3 empty; hungry.
4 without significance; meaningless (a hollow triumph).
5 insincere; cynical; false (a hollow laugh; hollow promises).
—n.
1 a hollow place; a hole.
2 a valley; a basin.
—v.tr. (often foll. by out) make hollow; excavate.
—adv. colloq. completely (beaten hollow).
Phrases and idioms:
hollow-eyed with eyes deep sunk. hollow-hearted insincere. hollow square Mil. hist. a body of infantry drawn up in a square with a space in the middle. in the hollow of one's hand entirely subservient to one.
Derivatives:
hollowly adv. hollowness n.
Etymology: ME holg, holu, hol(e)we f. OE holh cave, rel. to HOLE
Useful english dictionary. 2012.