1. [n]  small velvety-furred burrowing mammal having small eyes and fossorial forefeet
2. [n]  a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away
3. [n]  a small congenital pigmented spot on the skin
4. [n]  (Mexican) spicy sauce often containing chocolate
5. [n]  a spy who works against enemy espionage
6. [n]  the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams; the basic unit of amount of substance adopted under the System International d'Unites

1. \Mole\, n. [AS. m[=a]l; akin to OHG. meil, Goth. mail Cf.
   {Mail} a spot.]
   1. A spot; a stain; a mark which discolors or disfigures.
      [Obs.] --Piers Plowman.
   
   2. A spot, mark, or small permanent protuberance on the human
      body; esp., a spot which is dark-colored, from which
      commonly issue one or more hairs.
   
   

2. \Mole\, n. [L. mola.]
   A mass of fleshy or other more or less solid matter generated
   in the uterus.
   
   

3. \Mole\, n. [F. m[^o]le, L. moles. Cf. {Demolish},
   {Emolument}, {Molest}.]
   A mound or massive work formed of masonry or large stones,
   etc., laid in the sea, often extended either in a right line
   or an arc of a circle before a port which it serves to defend
   from the violence of the waves, thus protecting ships in a
   harbor; also, sometimes, the harbor itself. --Brande & C.
   
   

4. \Mole\, n. [OE. molle, either shortened fr. moldwerp, or
   from the root of E. mold soil: cf. D. mol, OD. molworp. See
   {Moldwarp}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any insectivore of the family {Talpid[ae]}.
      They have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large
      and strong fore feet.
   
   Note: The common European mole, or moldwarp ({Talpa
         Europ[ae]a}), is noted for its extensive burrows. The
         common American mole, or shrew mole ({Scalops
         aquaticus}), and star-nosed mole ({Condylura cristata})
         have similar habits.
   
   Note: In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two
         unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole
         rat.
   
   2. A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground
      drains. [U.S.]
   
   
   
   {Duck mole}. See under {Duck}.
   
   {Golden mole}. See {Chrysochlore}.
   
   {Mole cricket} (Zo["o]l.), an orthopterous insect of the
      genus {Gryllotalpa}, which excavates subterranean
      galleries, and throws up mounds of earth resembling those
      of the mole. It is said to do damage by injuring the roots
      of plants. The common European species ({Gryllotalpa
      vulgaris}), and the American ({G. borealis}), are the best
      known.
   
   {Mole rat} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Old
      World rodents of the genera {Spalax}, {Georychus}, and
      several allied genera. They are molelike in appearance and
      habits, and their eyes are small or rudimentary.
   
   {Mole shrew} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
      short-tailed American shrews of the genus {Blarina}, esp.
      {B. brevicauda}.
   
   {Water mole}, the duck mole.
   
   

5. \Mole\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Moled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Moling}.]
   1. To form holes in, as a mole; to burrow; to excavate; as,
      to mole the earth.
   
   2. To clear of molehills. [Prov. Eng.] --Pegge.
   
   

1. A small, furry, burrow-dwelling insectivore in the family Talpidae.
2. A pigmented, raised spot on the skin.
3. The fundamental unit for measuring compounds; one gram molecular weight of a compound (see Avogadro's number). Abbreviated "mol."

Heb. tinshameth (Lev. 11:30), probably signifies some species of lizard (rendered in R.V., "chameleon"). In Lev. 11:18, Deut. 14:16, it is rendered, in Authorized Version, "swan" (R.V., "horned owl").

The Heb. holed (Lev. 11:29), rendered "weasel," was probably the mole-rat. The true mole (Talpa Europoea) is not found in Palestine. The mole-rat (Spalax typhlus) "is twice the size of our mole, with no external eyes, and with only faint traces within of the rudimentary organ; no apparent ears, but, like the mole, with great internal organs of hearing; a strong, bare snout, and with large gnawing teeth; its colour a pale slate; its feet short, and provided with strong nails; its tail only rudimentary."

In Isa. 2:20, this word is the rendering of two words _haphar peroth_, which are rendered by Gesenius "into the digging of rats", i.e., rats' holes. But these two Hebrew words ought probably to be combined into one (lahporperoth) and translated "to the moles", i.e., the rat-moles. This animal "lives in underground communities, making large subterranean chambers for its young and for storehouses, with many runs connected with them, and is decidedly partial to the loose debris among ruins and stone-heaps, where it can form its chambers with least trouble."