noun
Freq #24687
Meanings
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1
noun
a covered opening in a street or other surface through which a worker can enter a sewer, drain, or underground utility space
The crew lifted the manhole cover and lowered a camera into the drain.
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2
noun
an opening large enough for a person to enter the inside of a tank, boiler, vessel, or machine
An inspector climbed through the manhole to examine the empty storage tank.
Thesaurus
Etymology
A compound of man + hole, recorded for an opening large enough to admit a person. It was first applied to access openings in boilers, tanks, and vessels and later became especially associated with covered entrances to sewers and underground utilities.