pitting

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   The formation of many small holes or hollows on a surface, usually from corrosion or wear.

   Grammar: Uncountable: there is some pitting on the blade.

   Patterns

   • pitting on something
   • pitting of something

   The inspector found deep pitting on the steel bridge supports.

   Salt water causes pitting in many metals.

   Light pitting of the windshield by flying gravel is common on highways.

2. 2noununcountable

   Removal of the hard central stone from fruit such as cherries or olives.

   Grammar: Uncountable, often with 'of': the pitting of cherries.

   Patterns

   • the pitting of fruit

   The pitting of several kilos of cherries took us all afternoon.

   A small tool makes the pitting of olives much quicker.

3. 3verbtransitive

   Setting one person or thing in a contest or conflict against another, in the form 'pitting' used as a participle.

   Grammar: Used as a participle with 'against': pitting one team against another.

   Patterns

   • pitting someone against someone
   • pitting something against something

   The final is a thrilling match pitting two old rivals against each other.

   The story is about a feud pitting brother against sister.

   The new law has sparked a debate pitting farmers against city dwellers.

Common combinations

pitting corrosion

Pitting corrosion weakened the pipe from the inside.

pitting against

The show is a quiz pitting couples against each other.

surface pitting

Surface pitting is visible on the old coin.

pitting in the metal

We noticed pitting in the metal around the hinge.

pitting of cherries

The pitting of cherries stains your fingers red.

Synonyms and how they differ

corrosion

Corrosion is general wearing away of metal, whereas pitting means specifically small holes in the surface.

pockmarks

Pockmarks are small scars, often on skin, while pitting is the process or condition of forming such holes.

setting against

Setting against is plainer and more general than pitting someone against someone, which suggests a deliberate contest.

Opposites

Word family

pit verb

to mark with holes or to set in competition

pit noun

a hole in the ground, or the stone of a fruit

pitted adjective

covered with small holes, or with the stone removed

pitter noun

a tool for removing fruit stones

Commonly confused: pitting or pitching?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pitting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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