holey

Imagine an old sock after a long day of adventures: it is probably holey, meaning full of holes. The word describes something with many openings, often because of wear, damage, insects, or the way it was formed. You might call Swiss cheese holey because of its well-known holes, or a moth-eaten sweater holey after it has been damaged. Most of the time, the word is used for physical things you can see.

The word "holey" paints a picture of something full of openings, like a well-worn piece of fabric or a naturally porous material. It usually suggests more than just one hole; it brings to mind a surface marked by many holes or gaps.

Think about a fisherman returning with a net that's holey after battling a strong current and a rocky seabed. Or picture a leaf eaten by insects, becoming increasingly holey until only the veins remain. It can describe something naturally full of holes, like some kinds of cheese or stone, or something damaged over time, such as a holey sock, shirt, or bucket.

The word is mainly used for physical objects. Sometimes people use it in a figurative way for an explanation or argument with many gaps, but that is less common than simply saying "full of holes."

So, whether you're describing a worn-out garment, a natural formation, or a flawed explanation, "holey" evokes an image of something perforated, riddled with openings, and perhaps even a little bit fragile.