pinhole

American  

[pin-hohl] / ˈpɪnˌhoʊl /

noun

1. a small hole made by or as by a pin.

2. a hole for a pin to go through; tiny aperture.

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pinhole British  

/ ˈpɪnˌhəʊl /

noun

1. a small hole made with or as if with a pin

2. archery the exact centre of an archery target, in the middle of the gold zone

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Etymology

Origin of pinhole

First recorded in 1670–80; pin + hole

Example Sentences

She looked through the pinhole and saw two men wearing hoods.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

The Olympics are an incredible showcase but also a pinhole sample—a once-every-four-years event in which glory and disaster can come down to hundredths of seconds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

If you don't have access to eclipse glasses, you can create a simple pinhole camera with just two sheets of cardboard or even use a colander to project the Sun's image safely onto the ground.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2025

I walked over to the Oclipsinator, a large pinhole camera that projected the eclipse onto a white card.

From Slate • Apr. 8, 2024

I felt my throat tighten to a pinhole.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline