Synonyms

pinhole

American

[pin-hohl] / ˈpɪnˌhoʊl /

noun

a small hole made by or as by a pin.
a hole for a pin to go through; tiny aperture.

pinhole British

/ ˈpɪnˌhəʊl /

noun

a small hole made with or as if with a pin
archery the exact centre of an archery target, in the middle of the gold zone

"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 pinhole

First recorded in 1670–80; pin + 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.

See Examples For:

pinhole

Traditional confocal microscopes use a small opening called a pinhole and a single detector to isolate light from a selected area.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

The researchers incorporated an array detector into their new microscope, allowing it to collect more light than a conventional system built around a pinhole and single detector.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

Alternatives to the sought-after glasses include a colander or home-made pinhole viewer.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Consultant ophthalmologist David Jones said his top four tips were to use eclipse glasses, a pinhole, colander or a cereal box.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

A single pinhole in the tarp leaked moonlight, which slowly filled the lifeboat.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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