borehole

noun

bore·​hole ˈbȯr-ˌhōl How to pronounce borehole (audio)
: a hole bored or drilled in the earth: such as
a
: an exploratory well
b
chiefly British : a small-diameter well drilled especially to obtain water

Examples of borehole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The slow movement of Earth’s mantle would eventually cause a borehole to bend and collapse. Andrew Gase, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2024 The bad news is that drilling to such depths – sometimes beyond the world-record 12 km (7.5 mile) depth of the Kola borehole – is currently beyond the cutting edge of engineering, although there are some very promising projects that could solve this issue in relatively short order. David Szondy, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2024 The metal casing that the drillers left behind still sticks up out of the snow, even though the borehole beneath it has collapsed. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 State officials have said that the first facilities to divert water in the Strawberry Creek watershed were built in 1929, and the system expanded over the years as additional boreholes were drilled into the mountainside. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for borehole 

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of borehole was in 1708

Dictionary Entries Near borehole

Cite this Entry

“Borehole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borehole. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!