Other forms: manholes
A manhole is an opening in a street or sidewalk that gives workers access to underground pipes, drains, power lines, and cables. A manhole usually has a heavy metal cover — which can go shooting up in the air in the case of an underground explosion. Steer clear of smoking manholes!
Inside a manhole, there are steps or a ladder leading down to the space underneath the street. Utility workers need access to this underground area to make repairs or updates to services. From above, a manhole simply looks like a metal circle in the pavement. The word manhole (which sounds a little dated, since plenty of utility workers are women) was coined in the late 18th century.