pinhole

noun

pin·​hole ˈpin-ˌhōl How to pronounce pinhole (audio)
Synonyms of pinholenext
: a small hole made by, for, or as if by a pin

Synonyms of pinhole

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Examples of pinhole in a Sentence

The water was leaking through a pinhole in the pipe. pinholes in a bedsheet will look like stars if you shine a light from behind it
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.
One way is to use a pinhole projector, which involves using a cardboard box and tinfoil to create a small opening in order to project an image of the sun. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 People can see projections of the eclipse using a tool like a pinhole projector with a small opening or colander, showing shadows of the eclipse on the ground. — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026 Fill the bottles with water and add a pinhole in the bottom. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 June 2026 An indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector to cast images of the Sun, can also be used to see the partial phases of the eclipse, NASA said. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pinhole

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinhole was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

pinholder
pinhole
pinhole borer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pinhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinhole. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pinhole

noun
pin·​hole -ˌhōl How to pronounce pinhole (audio)
: a very small hole made by or as if by a pin
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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