pigeonhole

pigeonhole
/pij"euhn hohl'/, n., v., pigeonholed, pigeonholing.
n.
1. one of a series of small, open compartments, as in a desk, cabinet, or the like, used for filing or sorting papers, letters, etc.
2. a hole or recess, or one of a series of recesses, for pigeons to nest in.
3. Also called pigeon hole, white hole. Print. white space created by setting words or lines too far apart.
v.t.
4. to assign to a definite place or to definite places in some orderly system: to pigeonhole new ideas.
5. to lay aside for use or reference at some later, indefinite time: We must pigeonhole this excellent plan until the time is ripe.
6. to put aside for the present, esp. with the intention of ignoring or forgetting, often indefinitely: to pigeonhole an unwanted invitation.
7. to place in or as if in a pigeonhole or pigeonholes: to pigeonhole papers.
8. to fit or provide with pigeonholes: The desk must be pigeonholed for all my papers.
[1570-80; PIGEON1 + HOLE]
Syn. 4. categorize, catalog. 5. file. 6. postpone, shelve.

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  • Pigeonhole — Pi geon*hole , v. t. To place in the pigeonhole of a case or cabinet; hence, to put away; to lay aside indefinitely; as, to pigeonhole a letter or a report. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pigeonhole — [n] compartment box, carrel, chamber, corner, cranny, cubbyhole, cubicle, hole, niche, nook, place, pocket, recess, section, slot, stall; concept 434 pigeonhole [v] categorize; shelve assort, class, classify, defer, delay, dismiss, file, group,… …   New thesaurus

  • pigeonhole — [pij′ən hōl΄] n. 1. a small recess or hole for pigeons to nest in, usually in a compartmented structure 2. a small open compartment, as in a desk, for filing papers vt. pigeonholed, pigeonholing 1. to put in the pigeonhole of a desk, etc. 2. to… …   English World dictionary

  • Pigeonhole — Pi geon*hole , n. A small compartment in a desk or case for the keeping of letters, documents, etc.; so called from the resemblance of a row of them to the compartments in a dovecote. Burke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pigeonhole — I verb allocate, allot, arrange, assort, bracket, break down, catalogue, categorize, class, collocate, divide, docket, file, form into classes, grade, group, index, label, list, methodize, name, order, organize, place, place in a category, put in …   Law dictionary

  • pigeonhole — (n.) also pigeon hole, 1570s, a small recess for pigeons to nest in, from PIGEON (Cf. pigeon) + HOLE (Cf. hole) (n.). The verb sense of label mentally is from 1854. [Y]ou will have an inspector after you with note book and ink horn, and you will… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pigeonhole — *assort, sort, classify Analogous words: systematize, methodize, organize, arrange, *order …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • pigeonhole — One opening or section for sorting mail into a distribution case …   Glossary of postal terms

  • pigeonhole — ► NOUN 1) a small recess for a domestic pigeon to nest in. 2) each of a set of small compartments where letters or messages may be left for individuals. 3) a category to which someone or something is assigned. ► VERB ▪ assign to a particular… …   English terms dictionary

  • pigeonhole — ▪ I. pigeonhole pi‧geon‧hole 1 [ˈpɪdʒnhəʊl ǁ hoʊl] verb [transitive] to consider a person, activity etc as belonging to a particular type or group, in a way that is too simple and therefore unfair; = LABEL: • Electronic books and multimedia had… …   Financial and business terms

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