a large cavity or hole in the ground, either natural or artificial; a cavity in the surface of a body; an indentation-the shaft of a coal mine; a coal pit.-a large hole in the ground from which material is dug or quarried; as, a stone pit; a gravel pit; or in which material is made by burning; as, a lime pit; a charcoal pit.-a vat sunk in the ground; as, a tan pit.-any abyss; especially, the grave, or hades.-a covered deep hole for entrapping wild beasts; a pitfall; hence, a trap; a snare. also used figuratively.-a depression or hollow in the surface of the human body-the hollow place under the shoulder or arm; the axilla, or armpit.-see pit of the stomach (below).-the indentation or mark left by a pustule, as in smallpox.-formerly, that part of a theater, on the floor of the house, below the level of the stage and behind the orchestra; now, in england, commonly the part behind the stalls; in the united states, the parquet; also, the occupants of such a part of a theater.-an inclosed area into which gamecocks, dogs, and other animals are brought to fight, or where dogs are trained to kill rats.-the endocarp of a drupe, and its contained seed or seeds; a stone; as, a peach pit; a cherry pit, etc.-a depression or thin spot in the wall of a duct.-to place or put into a pit or hole.-to mark with little hollows, as by various pustules; as, a face pitted by smallpox.-to introduce as an antagonist; to set forward for or in a contest; as, to pit one dog against another.