MOLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mole mean? 

• MOLE (noun)
  The noun MOLE has 6 senses:

1. the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams; the basic unit of amount of substance adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

2. a spy who works against enemy espionage

3. spicy sauce often containing chocolate

4. a small congenital pigmented spot on the skin

5. a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away

6. small velvety-furred burrowing mammal having small eyes and fossorial forefeet

  Familiarity information: MOLE used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams; the basic unit of amount of substance adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

gram molecule; mol; mole

Hypernyms ("mole" is a kind of...):

metric weight unit; weight unit (a decimal unit of weight based on the gram)

Derivation:

molal (designating a solution containing one mole of solute per kilogram of solvent)

molar (containing one mole of a substance)

molar (designating a solution containing one mole of solute per liter of solution)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A spy who works against enemy espionage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

counterspy; mole

Hypernyms ("mole" is a kind of...):

spy; undercover agent ((military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Spicy sauce often containing chocolate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("mole" is a kind of...):

sauce (flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food)

Domain region:

Mexico; United Mexican States (a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A small congenital pigmented spot on the skin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("mole" is a kind of...):

blemish; defect; mar (a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body))

Sense 5

Meaning:

A protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

breakwater; bulwark; groin; groyne; jetty; mole; seawall

Hypernyms ("mole" is a kind of...):

barrier (a structure or object that impedes free movement)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Small velvety-furred burrowing mammal having small eyes and fossorial forefeet

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("mole" is a kind of...):

insectivore (small insect-eating mainly nocturnal terrestrial or fossorial mammals)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mole"):

Condylura cristata; star-nosed mole; starnose mole (amphibious mole of eastern North America having pink fleshy tentacles around the nose)

brewer's mole; hair-tailed mole; Parascalops breweri (mole of eastern North America)

golden mole (mole of southern Africa having iridescent guard hairs mixed with the underfur)

shrew mole (slender mole having a long snout and tail)

Holonyms ("mole" is a member of...):

family Talpidae; Talpidae (moles)

 Context examples 

The amounts can be expressed as moles, masses, volumes, or parts.

(Concentration, NCI Thesaurus)

Days times moles per liter (area under the curve).

(Day Times Millimole per Milliliter, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Yes, I am, and admiring the mole in your chin at the same time.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The amount of a substance equal to a thousandth of a mole (a measure of the amount of a substance).

(Millimole, NCI Dictionary)

Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole.

(Melanoma, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

A unit of amount of substance equal to 0.001 mole.

(Millimole, NCI Thesaurus)

Days times moles per liter, divided by grams.

(Day Times Mole Per Liter Per Gram, NCI Thesaurus)

Days times moles per liter (area under the curve), divided by grams (dose or weight).

(Day Times Mole Per Liter Per Gram, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Days times moles per liter, divided by meters squared.

(Day Times Mole per Liter per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus)

Days times moles per liter (area under the curve), divided by meters squared (surface area).

(Day Times Mole per Liter per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)