Meaning & use
manholes
Last updated
UK/ˈmænhəʊlz/
US/ˈmænhoʊlz/
“manholes” is a form of “manhole”.
Meaning
nounplural
Covered openings in a street or floor big enough for a worker to climb down to pipes or wires.
Grammar: Plural of manhole: one manhole, two manholes.
Patterns
- cover the manholes
Workers opened the manholes to check the sewer.
Steam rose from the manholes on cold mornings.
Cyclists should avoid wet manholes.
Word forms
| singular | manhole |
|---|
Common combinations
- open the manholes
- Crews open the manholes before repairs.
- manhole covers
- The manhole covers are made of iron.
- sewer manholes
- Sewer manholes need regular inspection.
- manholes in the road
- There are manholes in the road ahead.
- cover the manholes
- Cover the manholes when work ends.
Synonyms and how they differ
- access hole
- Access hole is a general term for any opening used for entry.
- inspection chambers
- Inspection chambers are underground spaces beneath the cover, not the opening itself.
- maintenance holes
- Maintenance holes is the modern, gender-neutral term.
Word family
- manhole noun
- one covered opening
- manhole cover noun
- the lid over a manhole
- sewer noun
- an underground drain
Commonly confused: manholes or mainholes?
manholes vs mainholes
Not a word; the spelling is manholes.
Practice
Workers lifted the iron covers off the ___ to reach the sewer pipes.
Choose one answer.
Manholes are covered openings leading to underground pipes. The other options are parts of a roof or building.
Make it your own
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