borehole

American

[bawr-hohl, bohr-] / ˈbɔrˌhoʊl, ˈboʊr- /

noun

Mining.

a hole drilled in the earth, as for the purpose of extracting a core, releasing gas, oil, water, etc.

borehole British

/ ˈbɔːˌhəʊl /

noun

a hole driven into the ground to obtain geological information, release water, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of borehole

First recorded in 1700–10; bore ² + hole

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Which of course, he can because he has a water filter pump to access this groundwater reserve through the borehole.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

The processes observed in the Yellowstone borehole may not be unique.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2025

In Moray, borehole supplies from the River Spey are being boosted by pumping water directly from the river to maintain normal levels.

From BBC • May 15, 2025

Once identified, wells can be properly "plugged and abandoned" by filling the borehole with cement, keeping oil out of water and methane out of the atmosphere.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

Water had to be flowing constantly into the borehole to keep the drill running smoothly.

From "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023