The term 'hollowed out' refers to the act of making something empty by removing the inside. The phonetic transcription of this word is /ˈhɒləʊd aʊt/. The spelling of 'hollowed' comes from the root word 'hollow' which has the same pronunciation as in the word. The 'ed' ending indicates the past tense of the verb - hollow. The phrase 'hollowed out' has been used both literally and figuratively in many contexts, including the environment and the economy.
Hollowed out is an adjective phrase that describes something that has been excavated or carved out internally, resulting in an empty space or cavity. The term can be used both literally and figuratively to depict various situations and objects.
In its literal sense, hollowed out refers to a physical process of removing material from the inside of an object or structure, creating a void within. For example, a craftsman might hollow out a piece of wood to create a bowl or an artist may hollow out a piece of stone to carve a sculpture. Similarly, an excavator may hollow out a tunnel underground or a cave may be hollowed out over time by natural geological processes. In all these instances, the internal space is created through excavation or removal.
When used figuratively, hollowed out describes a state of emptiness, depletion, or the loss of vitality. It often refers to the unfavorable consequences of certain actions or events. For instance, one might say that a struggling economy has hollowed out a town, meaning that businesses have closed, jobs have been lost, and the community has become diminished or diminished in spirit. Alternatively, the phrase can be used to describe a person who has lost their enthusiasm, purpose, or sense of self, feeling as though they have become a mere shell of their former self.
Overall, hollowed out refers to the process or result of creating an empty interior or the state of becoming depleted or diminished in some way.
The word "hollowed out" is formed by combining the words "hollow" and "out".
"Hollow" comes from the Old English word "holh" or "hollo", which referred to a cavity or empty space. It has common Germanic origins and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch "hol" and German "hohl".
"On the other hand, "out" originated from the Old English word "ūt", meaning "outside" or "away". It is also Germanic in origin and is related to words like Dutch "uit" and German "aus".
Therefore, when these two words are combined, "hollowed out" refers to the process of creating or forming an empty space or cavity within an object, typically by removing material from the interior.