pocket — noun
1. a cloth part inside or on clothing where you keep small things such as keys or m
a cloth part inside or on clothing where you keep small things such as keys or money.
Lena kept the train ticket in her coat pocket all day.
collocation: in + coat pocket
Coins fell from Marco's pocket when he ran for the bus.
collocation: from + pocket
The nurse checked every pocket before washing the hospital uniform.
Our guide pulled a small map from his shirt pocket.
- pouch
usually a separate small bag, not a sewn part of clothing
- compartment
broader and often used for larger divided spaces
- slot
focuses on a narrow opening rather than a soft cloth space
- outside
describes being on the outer surface instead of kept inside the clothing
用法筆記
Most often used for pockets in shirts, trousers, skirts, coats, and uniforms.
常見錯誤
2. a small part on a bag, seat, door, or similar object where you store things.
a small part on a bag, seat, door, or similar object where you store things.
The backpack has a side pocket for a water bottle.
collocation: side pocket
Aya slipped her phone into the seat pocket before takeoff.
collocation: seat pocket
Receipts filled the car door pocket after the long trip.
Grandpa keeps mints in the pocket on the side of his armchair.
- compartment
can be harder or more box-like than a pocket
- holder
often names a place made for one specific object
- pouch
suggests a soft bag attached to something
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense is not about clothing. It is common for travel bags, car doors, and seat backs.
3. one of the openings around a pool or snooker table where balls are meant to go.
one of the openings around a pool or snooker table where balls are meant to go.
Ben left the black ball hanging over the corner pocket.
collocation: corner pocket
The cue ball stopped beside the side pocket.
collocation: side pocket
Rita aimed for the near pocket and missed by inches.
On the last shot, Ken sank the red ball into the pocket.
用法筆記
Used in billiards, pool, and snooker for the target opening at the edge of the table.
4. the money a person or group has available for paying for things.
the money a person or group has available for paying for things.
This tour was built for deep pockets, not student budgets.
idiomatic phrase: deep pockets
Only buyers with deep pockets could afford that lakeside house.
pattern: with deep pockets
The town needs rental homes to suit most pockets.
The museum kept ticket prices low for visitors without deep pockets.
- poverty
describes having very little money rather than spending capacity
用法筆記
Often appears in fixed phrases such as 'deep pockets' or after words like 'beyond' and 'suit'.
5. a small area, group, or amount of something that stays separate from what is aro
a small area, group, or amount of something that stays separate from what is around it.
A pocket of warm air saved the orange trees.
pattern: pocket of + noun
Police found a small pocket of fans near the east gate.
pattern: pocket of + people
Purple flowers grew in pockets of shade behind the wall.
One pocket of dry ground remained after the river rose.
用法筆記
Common with weather, groups of people, and small areas that remain different from their surroundings.
6. during an American football play, the protected space behind the players in fron
during an American football play, the protected space behind the players in front, where the quarterback waits or throws.
The quarterback stayed in the pocket while his teammates formed a wall.
collocation: in the pocket
When defenders broke through, the pocket closed around the quarterback.
pattern: pocket closed around the quarterback
On third down, Chen escaped the pocket and ran left.
The coach wants Eli calm when the pocket around him starts shrinking.
- passing space
a plain explanation rather than the usual game term
- protection
broader because it can refer to blocking in general
用法筆記
Only used in American football. The subject is usually a quarterback or a defender affecting that space.
7. the small space between a tooth and the gum, especially when it has become deep
the small space between a tooth and the gum, especially when it has become deep because of disease.
Food stuck in the pocket beside one back tooth.
collocation: pocket beside a tooth
The dentist cleaned a deep pocket under Sara's swollen gum.
medical collocation: deep pocket
Bacteria can grow fast when a gum pocket stays wet after meals.
Dr. Lin measured the pocket before planning treatment for that tooth.
- gum pocket
a fuller medical expression for the same space
- periodontal pocket
the formal dental term
用法筆記
Common in dentistry. A 'deep pocket' often suggests gum disease rather than a normal healthy space.
pocket — verb
1. to place something in your pocket so you can carry it or keep it there.
to place something in your pocket so you can carry it or keep it there.
Nina pocketed the key before climbing the garden ladder.
pocket + object
After the show, Leo pocketed his pass and waved goodbye.
Before locking up, the cashier pocketed her locker key.
Maya pocketed the note instead of reading it aloud.
- take out
to remove something from the pocket
文法句型
pocket + object
用法筆記
Usually takes a small physical object as its direct object.
2. to make a pool or snooker ball fall into a table pocket.
to make a pool or snooker ball fall into a table pocket.
Owen pocketed the yellow ball with a gentle shot to the corner.
pocket + ball
One lucky bounce pocketed the black ball in the corner.
collocation: pocket the black ball
Mina pocketed two reds before missing the easy blue.
From the side rail, Kai pocketed the ball in the far corner.
- miss
to fail to send the ball into the pocket
文法句型
pocket + ball
用法筆記
Used in cue sports. The direct object is the ball that goes into the hole.
3. to keep money or another thing for yourself, especially when you have no right t
to keep money or another thing for yourself, especially when you have no right to take it.
The clerk pocketed fifty dollars from the charity box.
pocket + money dishonestly
A local official pocketed grant money meant for school lunches.
Instead of reporting the wallet, Dan pocketed the cash.
Two partners were jailed after pocketing clients' tax refunds.
文法句型
pocket + money/item
用法筆記
Usually suggests selfish or dishonest gain. Distinguish from sense 1, where the action is physically putting something into a pocket.
常見錯誤
pocket — adjective
1. small enough to go in a pocket, or made to be kept there for easy use.
small enough to go in a pocket, or made to be kept there for easy use.
Judy bought a pocket notebook for bus numbers and ideas.
pocket + noun for portable item
His pocket radio still worked during the power cut.
The guide gave each child a pocket map of the zoo.
At the market, we found a pocket dictionary for travelers.
- bulky
too large or awkward to carry easily
文法句型
pocket + noun
用法筆記
Often used for small tools, books, radios, maps, and notebooks meant to be carried around.
2. made in a much smaller form than usual, often as a shortened version of somethin
made in a much smaller form than usual, often as a shortened version of something larger.
The publisher issued a pocket edition for students riding the train.
collocation: pocket edition
On the shelf stood a pocket atlas beside the wall map.
reduced version of a larger item
The club printed a pocket calendar for members before the summer season.
The school sold a pocket handbook instead of the full manual.
- miniature
often suggests a very small copy
- small-scale
more formal and common in technical or planning contexts
- abridged
used for books when the content is shortened, not only the size
- full-size
the normal or larger version
文法句型
pocket + noun
用法筆記
Often used before words such as 'edition', 'atlas', 'calendar', and 'handbook'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 stresses a reduced version of a larger thing.