holt

Small wooded area

A holt is a small wood or grove, especially one on a hill.

The word is archaic or regional, surviving mainly in British place names like Holt or compound forms like Stockholt.

It also refers to an otter's den, typically a burrow in a riverbank: The otter retreated to its holt.

otter

burrow

Animal's dug dwelling

lairAnimal's hidden dwelling
denPrivate room or lair
nestAnimal-built shelter for young

lodge · habitat · riverbank · waterway · slide · tunnel · chamber · refuge · retreat · sanctuary

woodland

grove

Small stand of trees

copseSmall group of trees
thicketDense shrub cluster
forestTree-dense ecosystem

timberland · woodland · trees · canopy · underbrush · sylvan · greenery · spinney · coppice · brake

refuge

sanctuary

Protected sacred space

retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
havenShelter from danger
hideawaySecluded place of refuge

shelter · asylum · cover · seclusion · solitude · hermitage · privacy · isolation · recess · nook

Categories

animal habitatsforest, jungle, desert, ocean, rainforest
burrowsburrow, rabbit warren, tunnel, warren, fox den
hideawayshideaway, hideout, hiding place, lair, den
ottersotter, sea otter, sea otters, river otter, river otters
woodlandsforest, woodland, woods, mixed forest, timberland
otter habitatsriver, stream, creek, pond, lake

Opposites

vegetation density

To leave behind completely

barren · wasteland · clearing · plain · prairie

landscape moisture/fertility

To leave behind completely

badlands · wasteland · dustbowl · barrens · desolation

Phrases

hold onWait or maintain grip
holding handsGripping another's palm
hold upDelay or armed robbery
hold handsGrasp another's fingers
hold backPrevent forward movement
on holdTemporarily not proceeding

Family

hold, holiday, holder, holding, unholy, holds, holiness

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G