pigeonhole

Noun · Verb
US[pij-uhn-hohl]/ˈpɪdʒənˌhoʊl/3 syllables
Synonyms: cubbyholestereotypestamp

Open English WordNet

Noun (2)

  1. a specific (often simplistic) categoryType of category
  2. a small compartmentSynonyms: cubbyholeType of compartment

Verb (2)

  1. place into a small compartmentMore general put, set
  2. treat or classify according to a mental stereotype“I was stereotyped as a lazy Southern European”Synonyms: stereotypestampMore general classify, class

Related words pigeonholing noun

Word of the day · Oct 11About this word
expediteverb

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Pi′geon·hole′ noun

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. Edmund Burke

Pi′geon·hole′ transitive verb

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.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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