Definition

Noun: A hole created by the passage of a bullet through a material or surface.

Usage

The term "bullet hole" specifically describes the physical puncture or cavity left after a bullet penetrates something. It is a compound noun where "bullet" specifies the type of hole. It is commonly used in forensic, military, and journalistic contexts.

Examples

• The police examined the bullet hole in the car door to determine the shooter's position.
• The old wall was riddled with bullet holes from the historic battle.
• Investigators found a single bullet hole in the window glass.

Advanced Usage

• Forensic Analysis: The size, shape, and characteristics of a bullet hole can provide evidence about the caliber of the weapon, the angle of fire, and the distance from which the shot was fired.
• Symbolic Use: In literature or art, a bullet hole can symbolize violence, conflict, or a past traumatic event.

Variants and Related Words

• Bullet impact: A broader term that can refer to the point where a bullet strikes, which may not always result in a penetrating hole (e.g., a ricochet mark).
• Gunshot wound: Refers specifically to an injury caused by a bullet entering a body, not the hole in an object.

Synonyms

• Gunshot hole: A less common but understandable synonym.
• Shot hole: Can be used, though it is more general and can refer to holes made by other projectiles (e.g., in gardening).

Antonyms

• Pristine surface: A surface without any marks or damage.
• Unblemished area: An area that is intact and unharmed.

Related Phrases

• Riddled with bullet holes: A phrase describing an object or structure with many bullet holes.
  • The abandoned building was riddled with bullet holes.
• Plug a bullet hole: To temporarily seal a bullet hole, often as an emergency measure.
  • The crew used a special compound to plug the bullet hole in the aircraft's fuselage.

Noun

1. a hole made by a bullet passing through it