pinhole

noun

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

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.
Power, input, settings, profile, and Google Assistant buttons sit above the pad, alongside a pinhole microphone. PCMAG, 19 Feb. 2025 Contaminated cooling water sometimes leaks to the interior through pinholes or poor seams and introduces bacteria that cause spoilage. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025 Both temples feature downward-firing speaker grilles directly in front of the ear hooks and pinhole microphones near the hinges. PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025 The devices can also be placed over card readers at ATMs, or use pinhole cameras to record customers entering their PINs, according to the FBI. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Pinhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinhole. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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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