mole

[ mohl ]

See synonyms for mole on Thesaurus.com

noun

any of various small insectivorous mammals, especially of the family Talpidae, living chiefly underground, and having velvety fur, very small eyes, and strong forefeet: I stopped hating the moles in my rose garden when I realized they were eating the Japanese beetle grubs.
a spy who becomes part of and works from within the ranks of an enemy governmental staff or intelligence agency: There is always a risk that the mole may defect to the enemy.: Compare double agent.

Machinery. a large, powerful machine for boring through earth or rock, used in the construction of tunnels: He worked as a mechanic on the mole that created our subway tunnels.

Origin of mole

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English molle; akin to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German mol

Other definitions for mole (2 of 6)

mole²

[ mohl ]

noun

a small, congenital spot or blemish on the human skin, usually of a dark color, slightly elevated, and sometimes hairy; nevus: The pamphlet explains why it's important to monitor changes in a mole's color or shape.

Origin of mole

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English māl; akin to Old High German meil “spot,” Gothic mail “wrinkle”

Other definitions for mole (3 of 6)

mole³

[ mohl ]

noun

a massive structure, especially of stone, set up in the water, as for a breakwater, pier, or causeway: a mole may be topped with pierlike wooden planking, but unlike a typical pier, the mole does not allow water to pass under it: Islanders are raising money to restore the mole that once ran to the mainland.
an anchorage or harbor protected by such a structure: For our small fleet of boats, this mole has been most accommodating.

Origin of mole

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin mōlēs “mass, dam, mole”

Other definitions for mole (4 of 6)

mole⁴

or mol

[ mohl ]

nounChemistry.

the basic unit in the International System of Units (SI), representing the amount of a substance expressed in grams containing as many atoms, molecules, or ions as the number of atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12 (which is Avogadro's number, or 6.022 × 1023): To express the concentration of the substance in solution, use moles per liter.

Origin of mole

⁴

First recorded in 1900–05; from German Mol, short for Molekül, the German word for molecule

Other definitions for mole (5 of 6)

mole⁵

[ mohl ]

nounPathology, Embryology.

molar pregnancy.

Origin of mole

⁵

First recorded in1350–1400; Middle English mola, from Latin mola, “millstone, false conception”

Other definitions for mole (6 of 6)

mole⁶

[ moh-ley; Spanish maw-le ]

nounMexican Cooking.

a spicy sauce typically flavored with dark chocolate, chile peppers, and spices, usually served with turkey or chicken: Have you tried making your mole in a slow cooker?

Origin of mole

⁶

First recorded in 1880–85; from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl mōlli “sauce, gravy”; see guacamole

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mole in a sentence

The oxidation was carried out in dilute aqueous solution of the aldehyde at 20°-40°, using 2-3 mols.
Researches on Cellulose | C. F. Cross
They had built Fort Mols at the mouth of the river, and another fort higher up.
The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell | Andrew Battell
I was relieved from the necessity of finding some opening remark by the bursting into the room of "Mols" White.
Tell England | Ernest Raymond
The mixed crystal of definite constant melting point (minimum point) contains 59 mols.
The Phase Rule and Its Applications | Alexander Findlay

British Dictionary definitions for mole (1 of 6)

mole¹

/ (məʊl) /

noun

any small burrowing mammal, of the family Talpidae, of Europe, Asia, and North and Central America: order Insectivora (insectivores). They have velvety, typically dark fur and forearms specialized for digging
golden mole any small African burrowing molelike mammal of the family Chrysochloridae, having copper-coloured fur: order Insectivora (insectivores)

informal a spy who has infiltrated an organization and, often over a long period, become a trusted member of it

Origin of mole

C14: from Middle Dutch mol, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German mol

British Dictionary definitions for mole (2 of 6)

mole²

/ (məʊl) /

noun

a breakwater
a harbour protected by a breakwater

a large tunnel excavator for use in soft rock

Origin of mole

C16: from French môle, from Latin mōlēs mass

British Dictionary definitions for mole (3 of 6)

mole³

/ (məʊl) /

noun

pathol a nontechnical name for naevus

Origin of mole

Old English māl; related to Old High German meil spot

British Dictionary definitions for mole (4 of 6)

mole⁴

/ (məʊl) /

noun

the basic SI unit of amount of substance; the amount that contains as many elementary entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kilogram of carbon-12. The entity must be specified and may be an atom, a molecule, an ion, a radical, an electron, a photon, etc: Symbol: mol

Origin of mole

⁴

C20: from German Mol, short for Molekül molecule

British Dictionary definitions for mole (5 of 6)

mole⁵

/ (məʊl) /

noun

pathol a fleshy growth in the uterus formed by the degeneration of fetal tissues

Origin of mole

⁵

C17: medical use of Latin mola millstone

British Dictionary definitions for mole (6 of 6)

mole⁶

/ (ˈməʊleɪ) /

noun

a spicy Mexican sauce made from chili and chocolate

Origin of mole

⁶

C20: from Mexican Spanish from Nahuatl molli sauce

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

Scientific definitions for mole (1 of 2)

mole¹

[ mōl ]

A small, usually pigmented, benign growth on the skin.

Scientific definitions for mole (2 of 2)

mole²

[ mōl ]

The amount of an element, compound, or other substance that has the same number of basic particles as 12 grams of Carbon-12. The number of particles making up a mole is Avogadro's number. For elements and compounds, the mass of one mole, in grams, is roughly equal to the atomic or molecular weight of the substance. For example, carbon dioxide, CO2, has a molecular weight of 44; therefore, one mole of it weighs 44 grams.

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