Counterbore
A counterbore, might be called a countersink (which also used to describe the tool designed to make a counterbore), is where a second drill hole is made after a pre-drill hole or bore (for a screw length), this is normally only a partial drill hole and usually with angle edges. It is made to allow the head of the screw to sink into the wood or metal further so that the screw or bolt head lies flush with the surface of the wood or metal being fixed.
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