finger-hole

A musician covers the finger-hole of a wooden flute.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A hole in a musical instrument: A "finger-hole" is an opening in a wind instrument, such as a flute or recorder, that is covered or uncovered by the player's finger to produce different pitches or notes.
   • A hole for a finger: In a broader sense, it can refer to any opening designed to be used by a finger, such as on a tool or a piece of sports equipment (e.g., a bowling ball).

Usage Examples

• Musical instrument:

  • The recorder has seven finger-holes on its front and one on the back. (Openings that the player covers with fingers to change the sound.)
  • She learned to play a simple tune by covering each finger-hole correctly. (She used her fingers to block the holes to produce specific notes.)

• Other contexts:

  • The bowling ball has three finger-holes for the thumb and two middle fingers. (Openings designed to hold the ball securely.)

Advanced Usage

• "to finger a hole": to place a finger over or into a finger-hole to control sound or grip.

  • The flutist must finger each hole precisely to avoid squeaks. (The musician must cover each opening accurately.)

• "finger-hole placement": the arrangement of holes on an instrument, which affects playability and tuning.

  • The finger-hole placement on this flute is ergonomic for small hands. (The positioning of the holes is designed for comfort.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fingerhole (n, alternative spelling): same meaning as finger-hole.
  • The clarinet has many fingerholes along its body. (Openings for fingers to produce notes.)

Synonyms

• Tone hole: a hole in a wind instrument that affects the pitch when covered or uncovered.
• Stop: a hole on an instrument that is stopped (covered) by a finger to produce a note.

Related Idioms