mole
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for mole, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small, raised, often dark spot on the skin.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use mole
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
The skin-spot and animal senses trace back to Old English mal, meaning "spot" or "blemish." The chemistry unit comes from a shortening of "molecule."
Full origin of mole →Frequently asked questions
What does “mole” mean?
The word “mole” means a small, raised, often dark spot on the skin. In plain terms, most commonly a skin blemish or the small burrowing animal; also used for a secret infiltrator, and, in chemistry, a unit of quantity.
How do you pronounce “mole”?
“Mole” is pronounced mohl (/mol/ in IPA).
How do you use “mole” in a sentence?
Here is “mole” used in a sentence: “The doctor checked an unusual mole on his back.”
What is another word for “mole”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mole” include molewarp and mouldwarp.
What part of speech is “mole”?
“Mole” is a noun.
Where does the word “mole” come from?
The word “mole” comes from Old English. The skin-spot and animal senses trace back to Old English mal, meaning "spot" or "blemish." The chemistry unit comes from a shortening of "molecule.".
Is “mole” a common word?
“Mole” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mole” have?
“Mole” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, raised, often dark spot on the skin.
What is the difference between a mole on the skin and a mole the animal?
A skin mole is a small, raised, often dark spot, while the animal mole is a small burrowing mammal with tiny eyes and large digging paws. The two senses are unrelated in meaning but share the same spelling.
What does mole mean in the context of spying?
In espionage, a mole is a spy who has secretly infiltrated an organization, often over a long period, to pass along its secrets from the inside. This sense is common in fiction and news coverage of intelligence agencies.
What does mole mean in chemistry?
In chemistry, a mole is the standard unit for measuring an amount of a substance, used to count particles like atoms or molecules. It is one of the base units in the International System of Units.
How can you tell which meaning of mole is intended in a sentence?
Context makes the meaning clear: skin care topics point to the dermatological sense, gardening or nature topics point to the animal, spy stories point to the espionage sense, and science topics point to the chemistry unit.