Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: holh 'hole, hollow place'

hollow

1 adjective
     
hol‧low1
1

empty inside

having an empty space inside:
a hollow tree
2

hollow eyes/cheeks etc

HBH eyes etc where the skin sinks inwards:
He was short and thin, with hollow eyes.
3

sound

a hollow sound is low and clear like the sound made when you hit something empty:
There was a hollow thump as the cars collided.
4

no value

words, events, or people that are hollow have no real worth or value:
They won, but it was a hollow victory.
Even as he spoke, Ivan was well aware of the hollow ring to his words.
5

hollow laugh/voice etc

a hollow laugh or voice makes a weak sound and is without emotion
—hollowly adverb:
Sam laughed hollowly.
—hollowness noun [uncountable]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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