- any well drilled for oil or gas that does not yield enough to be commercially profitable: After three consecutive dry holes, we were delirious when this site came through big for us.
- a failed business venture, especially one that began with expectations and promises of high profitability: How do we explain to our investors yet another dry hole from our video games division?
- (in the oil industry) a well that is drilled but does not produce oil or gas in commercially worthwhile amounts
