drain hole

USAGE SUMMARY

'drain hole' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to a hole used to drain water, liquid, or other substances. For example: "I used a plunger to unclog the drain hole in the bathtub."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

For example, the first visitor to climb down and roll the natural sink strainer back into the natural drain hole wins $100 cash (Australian)!

The New York Times - Magazine

In the new report Toyota says it learned in July 2012 of an air bag warning light being illuminated and found a spider web had clogged the drain hole.

The New York Times

"Here was a guy all deconstructed, torn down, looking like he'd just crawled out of a drain hole, covered in slime, looking like he hadn't slept or washed in years, and looking like he didn't really give a fuck about you!

Independent

The studied detail was the integral stiffener with a drain hole near the wing root.

International Journal of Fatigue

The frequently used equations for horizontal drain hole productivity are corrected for the wellbore friction effect in this work.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

This study reveals that the frictional pressure loss in the horizontal drain hole is a key factor affecting inflow performance of highly productive and small-diameter and/or long horizontal wells.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Rinse up to the point of submersion, but rinse thoroughly and make sure body drain holes are open.

The New York Times

"You can't use chemicals to strip the metal because the furniture frame has drain holes and the chemicals will get inside," he said.

The New York Times

Another technique is to depressurize ahead by drain holes (or small drainage drifts on each side), an extreme example being the 1968 Japanese handling of extraordinarily difficult water and rock conditions on the Rokko Railroad Tunnel, using approximately three-quarters of a mile of drainage drifts and five miles of drain holes in a one-quarter-mile length of the main tunnel.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The lower half of an extremely fat man on little legs and feet forms an interior bowl, which has drain holes in the center like those of a urinal.

The New York Times - Arts

Toyota says spider webs clogging the drain holes on an air-conditioning housing prompted the recall, according to an explanation from the automaker posted Saturday on the Web site of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, be specific about the location of the hole (e.g., "the drain hole near the wing root") to ensure clarity.

Common error

Do not use "drain hole" if the primary purpose of the opening is to allow gas to escape. While some openings serve both functions, a drain hole is specifically designed for the gravitational exit of liquids or solids.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drain hole" functions primarily as a concrete noun phrase. In various contexts provided by Ludwig, it acts as the direct object of verbs like "clean", "drill", or "clog". It is a compound of the verb/noun "drain" and the noun "hole", where "drain" acts as an attributive noun defining the purpose of the aperture.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

55%

News & Media

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drain hole" is a highly versatile and correct English term used across a wide spectrum of disciplines. From domestic maintenance instructions in WikiHow to complex aeronautical engineering papers in ScienceDirect, it serves as a clear descriptor for any opening intended for fluid exit. Ludwig AI examples confirm that the term is universally understood and rarely carries ambiguity. Whether you are discussing automotive recalls due to clogged AC housings or botanical care for potted plants, "drain hole" is the standard, reliable choice for writers. For higher technical precision, alternatives like "drain orifice" or "weep hole" may be used, but in general usage, this phrase remains the most common and accessible option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drainage hole

A more formal and slightly more technical variation often used in gardening and civil engineering.

plug hole

The common British English term for the drain in a sink, bathtub, or shower.

weep hole

A specialized term for small openings in masonry or window frames to allow water to escape.

drain orifice

A highly technical term used in fluid dynamics and mechanical engineering contexts.

outlet

A broader term referring to any opening where liquid or air can exit.

overflow hole

Specifies a hole intended to prevent a container from spilling over rather than draining it completely.

scupper

A specific term for a drain on the edge of a boat deck or a flat roof.

spigot

Often refers to the mechanism or valve associated with a drain rather than just the hole itself.

sump

Refers to the low point where water collects before being drained or pumped out.

vent

Sometimes used when the primary purpose is to allow air to displace liquid during drainage.

FAQs

How to use "drain hole" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an exit point for liquid, such as "The plumber cleaned the "drainage hole" to stop the sink from overflowing" or "The mechanic found a spider web clogging the car's "drain hole"."

What can I say instead of "drain hole"?

Depending on the context, you might use "plug hole" for a bathroom sink, "weep hole" for masonry, or "drainage opening" for a more general description.

Is "drain hole" one word or two?

It is standard to write it as two separate words. While some technical hyphenation might occur in compound adjectives, like "a "drain-hole" cover", it is almost always written as two words when used as a noun.

What's the difference between a "drain hole" and a "drainage hole"?

There is very little difference, though ""drainage hole"" is often preferred in formal, scientific, or agricultural contexts to describe the system of fluid removal.