mole

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

mole, n. [AS. māl; akin to OHG. meil, Goth. mail Cf. Mail a spot.].

•  A spot; a stain; a mark which discolors or disfigures.  Piers Plowman.  [1913 Webster]
•  A spot, mark, or small permanent protuberance on the human body; esp., a spot which is dark-colored, from which commonly issue one or more hairs.  [1913 Webster]

mole, n. [L. mola.].

 A mass of fleshy or other more or less solid matter generated in the uterus.  [1913 Webster]

mole, n. [F. môle, L. moles. Cf. Demolish, Emolument, Molest.].

 A mound or massive work formed of masonry or large stones, etc., laid in the sea, often extended either in a right line or an arc of a circle before a port which it serves to defend from the violence of the waves, thus protecting ships in a harbor; also, sometimes, the harbor itself.  Brande & C.  [1913 Webster]

mole, n. [OE. molle, either shortened fr. moldwerp, or from the root of E. mold soil: cf. D. mol, OD. molworp. See Moldwarp.].

•  Any insectivore of the family Talpidæ. They have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large and strong fore feet.  [1913 Webster]

  " The common European mole, or moldwarp (Talpa Europæa), is noted for its extensive burrows. The common American mole, or shrew mole (Scalops aquaticus), and star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) have similar habits."  [1913 Webster]

  " In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole rat."  [1913 Webster]
•  A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground drains.  [1913 Webster]
•  A spy who lives for years an apparently normal life (to establish a cover) before beginning his spying activities.  [PJC]

Duck mole. See under Duck. -- Golden mole. See Chrysochlore. -- Mole cricket (Zoöl.), an orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllotalpa, which excavates subterranean galleries, and throws up mounds of earth resembling those of the mole. It is said to do damage by injuring the roots of plants. The common European species (Gryllotalpa vulgaris), and the American (Gryllotalpa borealis), are the best known. -- Mole rat (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Old World rodents of the genera Spalax, Georychus, and several allied genera. They are molelike in appearance and habits, and their eyes are small or rudimentary. -- Mole shrew (Zoöl.), any one of several species of short-tailed American shrews of the genus Blarina, esp. Blarina brevicauda. -- Water mole, the duck mole.

mole, n. 

 A quantity of a substance equal to the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams; a gram molecule; the basic unit of amount of substance adopted under the System International d'Unites; as, he added two moles of sodium chloride to the medium.  [WordNet 1.5]

mole, v. t. 

•  To form holes in, as a mole; to burrow; to excavate; as, to mole the earth.  [1913 Webster]
•  To clear of molehills.  Pegge.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

mole, n.
1 any small burrowing insect-eating mammal of the family Talpidae, esp. Talpa europaea, with dark velvety fur and very small eyes.
2 colloq. a a spy established deep within an organization and usu. dormant for a long period while attaining a position of trust. b a betrayer of confidential information.

mole, n. a small often slightly raised dark blemish on the skin caused by a high concentration of melanin.

mole, n.
1 a massive structure serving as a pier, breakwater, or causeway.
2 an artificial harbour.

mole, n. Chem. the SI unit of amount of substance equal to the quantity containing as many elementary units as there are atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12.

mole, n. Med. an abnormal mass of tissue in the uterus.

Etymology

F m{ocirc}le f. L mola millstone

THESAURUS

mole

abutment, anchorage, anchorage ground, arc-boutant, arch dam, backstop, bamboo curtain, bank, bar, barrage, barrier, basin, bat, beam, bear-trap dam, beaver dam, benign tumor, berth, bilge, birthmark, blackhead, blain, blaze, bleb, blemish, blind man, blister, blob, blotch, boom, boss, bow, brand, breakwater, breastwork, brick wall, bubble, buffer, bulb, bulge, bulkhead, bulla, bulwark, bump, bunch, burl, button, buttress, buttress pier, buttressing, cahot, callosity, callus, cancer, carcinoma, caste mark, check, checkmark, chine, cicatrix, clump, cofferdam, comedo, condyle, convex, corn, crack, crater, craze, cut, cyst, dam, dapple, defacement, defect, defense, deformation, deformity, dike, discoloration, disfiguration, disfigurement, distortion, ditch, dock, dockage, dockyard, dot, dowel, dry dock, ear, earmark, earthwork, embankment, engraving, excrescence, fault, fence, flange, flap, flaw, fleck, flick, flying buttress, freckle, fungosity, fungus, gall, gash, gate, gnarl, graving, gravity dam, groin, growth, hack, handle, hanging buttress, harbor, harborage, haven, hemangioma, hickey, hill, hump, hunch, hydraulic-fill dam, intumescence, iron curtain, jam, jetty, jog, joggle, jot, jutty, keloid, kink, knob, knot, knur, knurl, landing, landing place, landing stage, leaping weir, lentigo, levee, lip, logjam, loop, lump, macula, malignant growth, marina, mark, marking, metastatic tumor, milium, milldam, moat, moorings, morbid growth, mottle, mound, mountain, needle scar, neoplasm, nevus, nick, nonmalignant tumor, notch, nub, nubbin, nubble, outgrowth, papilloma, parapet, patch, peg, pier, pier buttress, pimple, pit, pock, pockmark, point, polka dot, port, port-wine mark, port-wine stain, portcullis, prick, protected anchorage, proud flesh, puncture, pustule, quay, rampart, retaining wall, rib, ridge, rift, ring, road, roadblock, roads, roadstead, rock-fill dam, sarcoma, scab, scar, scarification, score, scotch, scratch, scratching, seaport, seawall, sebaceous cyst, shipyard, shoulder, shutter dam, slip, speck, speckle, spine, splash, split, splotch, spot, stain, stigma, stone wall, strawberry mark, stud, sty, style, tab, tattoo, tattoo mark, the blind, the sightless, the unseeing, tick, tittle, track, tubercle, tubercule, tumor, twist, verruca, vesicle, wale, wall, warp, wart, watermark, weal, weir, welt, wen, wharf, whitehead, wicket dam, work

ROGET THESAURUS

mole

Refuge

N refuge, sanctuary, retreat, fastness, acropolis, keep, last resort, ward, prison, asylum, ark, home, refuge for the destitute, almshouse, hiding place, sanctum sanctorum, roadstead, anchorage, breakwater, mole, port, haven, harbor, harbor of refuge, seaport, pier, jetty, embankment, quay, covert, cover, shelter, screen, lee wall, wing, shield, umbrella, barrier, dashboard, dasher, wall, fort, anchor, kedge, grapnel, grappling iron, sheet anchor, killick, mainstay, support, cheek, ballast, jury mast, vent-peg, safety valve, blow-off valve, safety lamp, lightning rod, lightning conductor, safety belt, airbag, seat belt, antilock brakes, antiskid tires, snow tires, means of escape, lifeboat, lifejacket, life buoy, swimming belt, cork jacket, parachute, plank, steppingstone, emergency landing, safeguard, any port in a storm, bibere venenum in auro, valet anchora virtus.

Warning

N warning, early warning, caution, caveat, notice, premonition, premonishment, prediction, contraindication, lesson, dehortation, admonition, monition, alarm, handwriting on the wall, mene mene tekel upharsin, red flag, yellow flag, fog-signal, foghorn, siren, monitor, warning voice, Cassandra, signs of the times, Mother Cary's chickens, stormy petrel, bird of ill omen, gathering clouds, clouds in the horizon, death watch, watchtower, beacon, signal post, lighthouse, sentinel, sentry, watch, watchman, watch and ward, watchdog, bandog, housedog, patrol, patrolman, vedette, picket, bivouac, scout, spy, spial, undercover agent, mole, plainclothesman, advanced guard, rear guard, lookout, cautiousness, monitor, guard camera, radar, AWACS, spy satellite, spy-in-the- sky, U2 plane, spy plane, warning, premonitory, monitory, cautionary, admonitory, admonitive, sematic, warned, forewarned, on one's guard, in terrorem, Int, beware!, ware!, take care!, look out!, fore (golf), mind what you are about!, take care what you are about!, mind!, ne reveillez pas le chat qui dort, don't wake a sleeping cat, foenum habet in cornu, caveat actor, le silence du people est la legon des rois, verbum sat sapienti, a word to the wise is sufficient, un averti en vaut deux.

Defense

N defense, protection, guard, ward, shielding, propugnation, preservation, guardianship, area defense, site defense, self-defense, self-preservation, resistance, safeguard, balistraria, bunker, screen, camouflage, fortification, munition, muniment, trench, foxhole, bulwark, fosse, moat, ditch, entrenchment, intrenchment, kila, dike, dyke, parapet, sunk fence, embankment, mound, mole, bank, sandbag, revetment, earth work, field- work, fence, wall dead wall, contravallation, paling, palisade, haha, stockade, stoccado, laager, sangar, barrier, barricade, boom, portcullis, chevaux de frise, abatis, abattis, abbatis, vallum, circumvallation, battlement, rampart, scarp, escarp, counter-scarp, glacis, casemate, vallation, vanfos, buttress, abutment, shore, breastwork, banquette, curtain, mantlet, bastion, redan, ravelin, vauntmure, advance work, horn work, outwork, barbacan, barbican, redoubt, fort-elage, fort-alice, lines, loophole, machicolation, sally port, hold, stronghold, fastness, asylum, keep, donjon, dungeon, fortress, citadel, capitol, castle, tower of strength, tower of strength, fort, barracoon, pah, sconce, martello tower, peelhouse, blockhouse, rath, wooden walls, bulletproof vest, armored vest, buffer, corner stone, fender, apron, mask, gauntlet, thimble, carapace, armor, shield, buckler, aegis, breastplate, backplate, cowcatcher, face guard, scutum, cuirass, habergeon, mail, coat of mail, brigandine, hauberk, lorication, helmet, helm, bassinet, salade, heaume, morion, murrion, armet, cabaset, vizor, casquetel, siege cap, headpiece, casque, pickelhaube, vambrace, shako, bearskin, panoply, truncheon, garrison, picket, piquet, defender, protector, guardian, bodyguard, champion, knight-errant, Paladin, propugner, bulletproof window, hardened site, defending, defensive, mural, armed, armed at all points, armed cap-a-pie, armed to the teeth, panoplied, iron-plated, ironclad, loopholed, castellated, machicolated, casemated, defended, proof against, armored, ballproof, bulletproof, hardened, defensively, on the defense, on the defensive, in defense, at bay, pro aris et focis, Int, no surrender!, defense not defiance, Dieu defend le droit, fidei defensor, defender of the faith.

Blemish

N blemish, disfigurement, deformity, adactylism, flaw, defect, injury, spots on the sun, eyesore, stain, blot, spot, spottiness, speck, speckle, blur, tarnish, smudge, dirt, freckle, mole, macula, patch, blotch, birthmark, blobber lip, blubber lip, blain, maculation, scar, wem, pustule, whelk, excrescence, pimple, pitted, freckled, discolored, imperfect, blobber-lipped, bloodshot, injured.

Height

N height, altitude, elevation, eminence, pitch, loftiness, sublimity, tallness, stature, procerity, prominence, colossus, giant, grenadier, giraffe, camelopard, mount, mountain, hill alto, butte, monticle, fell, knap, cape, headland, foreland, promontory, ridge, hog's back, dune, rising ground, vantage ground, down, moor, moorland, Alp, uplands, highlands, heights, knob, loma, pena, picacho, tump, knoll, hummock, hillock, barrow, mound, mole, steeps, bluff, cliff, craig, tor, peak, pike, clough, escarpment, edge, ledge, brae, dizzy height, tower, pillar, column, obelisk, monument, steeple, spire, minaret, campanile, turret, dome, cupola, skyscraper, pole, pikestaff, maypole, flagstaff, top mast, topgallant mast, ceiling, high water, high tide, flood tide, spring tide, altimetry, batophobia, satellite, spy-in-the-sky, high, elevated, eminent, exalted, lofty, tall, gigantic, Patagonian, towering, beetling, soaring, hanging (gardens), elevated, upper, highest, high reaching, insessorial, perching, upland, moorland, hilly, knobby, mountainous, alpine, subalpine, heaven kissing, cloudtopt, cloudcapt, cloudtouching, aerial, overhanging, incumbent, overlying, superincumbent, supernatant, superimposed, prominent, tall as a maypole, tall as a poplar, tall as a steeple, lanky, on high, high up, aloft, up, above, aloof, overhead, airwind, upstairs, abovestairs, in the clouds, on tiptoe, on stilts, on the shoulders of, over head and ears, breast high, over, upwards, from top to bottom, e meglio cader dalle finistre che dal tetto.

Convexity

N convexity, prominence, projection, swelling, gibbosity, bilge, bulge, protuberance, protrusion, camber, cahot, thank-ye-ma'am, swell, intumescence, tumour, tumor, tubercle, tuberosity, excrescence, hump, hunch, bunch, boss, embossment, hub, hubble, tooth, knob, elbow, process, apophysis, condyle, bulb, node, nodule, nodosity, tongue, dorsum, bump, clump, sugar loaf, bow, mamelon, molar, belly, corporation, pot belly, gut, withers, back, shoulder, lip, flange, pimple, zit, wen, wheel, papula, pustule, pock, proud flesh, growth, sarcoma, caruncle, corn, wart, pappiloma, furuncle, polypus, fungus, fungosity, exostosis, bleb, blister, blain, boil, airbubble, blob, papule, verruca, papilla, nipple, teat, tit, titty, boob, knocker, pap, breast, dug, mammilla, proboscis, nose, neb, beak, snout, nozzle, schnoz, peg, button, stud, ridge, rib, jutty, trunnion, snag, cupola, dome, arch, balcony, eaves, pilaster, relief, relievo, cameo, bassorilievo, mezzorilevo, altorivievo, low relief, bas relief, high relief, hill, cape, promontory, mull, forehead, foreland, point of land, mole, jetty, hummock, ledge, spur, naze, ness, convex, prominent, protuberant, projecting, bossed, embossed, bossy, nodular, bunchy, clavate, clavated, claviform, hummocky, moutonne, mammiliform, papulous, papilose, hemispheric, bulbous, bowed, arched, bold, bellied, tuberous, tuberculous, tumous, cornute, odontoid, lentiform, lenticular, gibbous, club shaped, hubby, hubbly, knobby, papillose, saddle-shaped, selliform, subclavate, torose, ventricose, verrucose, salient, in relief, raised, repousse, bloated, (expanded).