A hole in the ground (Exodus 21:33, 34), a cistern for water (Genesis 37:24; Jeremiah 14:3), a vault (41:9), a grave (Psalm 30:3). It is used as a figure for mischief (Psalm 9:15), and is the name given to the unseen place of woe (Revelation 20:1, 3). The slime-pits in the vale of Siddim were wells which yielded asphalt (Genesis 14:10).

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) A large cavity or hole in the ground, either natural or artificial; a cavity in the surface of a body; an indentation

2. (n.) The shaft of a coal mine; a coal pit.

3. (n.) 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.

4. (n.) A vat sunk in the ground; as, a tan pit.

5. (n.) Any abyss; especially, the grave, or Hades.

6. (n.) A covered deep hole for entrapping wild beasts; a pitfall; hence, a trap; a snare. Also used figuratively.

7. (n.) A depression or hollow in the surface of the human body

8. (n.) The hollow place under the shoulder or arm; the axilla, or armpit.

9. (n.) See Pit of the stomach (below).

10. (n.) The indentation or mark left by a pustule, as in smallpox.

11. (n.) 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.

12. (n.) An enclosed area into which gamecocks, dogs, and other animals are brought to fight, or where dogs are trained to kill rats.

13. (n.) The endocarp of a drupe, and its contained seed or seeds; a stone; as, a peach pit; a cherry pit, etc.

14. (n.) A depression or thin spot in the wall of a duct.

15. (v. t.) To place or put into a pit or hole.

16. (v. t.) To mark with little hollows, as by various pustules; as, a face pitted by smallpox.

17. (v. t.) To introduce as an antagonist; to set forward for or in a contest; as, to pit one dog against another.