Bolt hole terminology for "tight" and "loose" bolt holes When a hole is created for a bolt, it might be &quot;tight&quot;; the intent is for the hole to be tapped. Or it might be &quot;loose&quot;, and the intent is for the bolt to slide into the hole and attached to a nut on the other side.
What is the terminology for these two kinds of holes?
A hole designed for a screw/bolt to slide freely through is called a clearance hole. A hole that is designed to be tapped could be called a pilot hole.