View synonyms for dig

dig

[dig]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

dug , digged, digging .

to break up, turn over, or remove earth, sand, etc., as with a shovel, spade, bulldozer, or claw; make an excavation.
to make one's way or work by or as by removing or turning over material.
to dig through the files.

verb (used with object)

dug , digged, digging .

to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often followed byup ).
to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.
to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often followed by up orout ).
to find or discover by effort or search.
to poke, thrust, or force (usually followed by in orinto ).
He dug his heel into the ground.

noun

thrust; poke.
He gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow.
a cutting, sarcastic remark.
an archaeological site undergoing excavation.
Informal., digs, living quarters; lodgings.

verb phrase

dig up
1. to discover in the course of digging.
2. to locate; find.
  to dig up information.
dig into, to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically: to dig into a meal.
to dig into one's work;
to dig into a meal.
dig in
1. to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.
2. to maintain one's opinion or position.
3. to start eating.
dig out
1. to remove earth or debris from by digging.
2. to hollow out by digging.
3. to find by searching.
  to dig out facts for a term paper.

dig

[dig]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

Slang.

dug, digging

to understand.
Can you dig what I'm saying?
to take notice of.
Dig those shoes he's wearing.
to like, love, or enjoy.
She digs that kind of music. We really dig each other.

dig.

abbreviation

digest.

dig

/ dɪɡ /

verb

to cut into, break up, and turn over or remove (earth, soil, etc), esp with a spade
to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, passage, etc) by digging, usually with an implement or (of animals) with feet, claws, etc
to dig a tunnel
(often foll by through) to make or force (one's way), esp by removing obstructions
he dug his way through the crowd
(tr; often foll by out or up) to obtain by digging
to dig potatoes
to dig up treasure
(tr; often foll by out or up) to find or discover by effort or searching
to dig out unexpected facts
(tr; foll by in or into) to thrust or jab (a sharp instrument, weapon, etc); poke
he dug his spurs into the horse's side
(tr; foll by in or into) to mix (compost, etc) with soil by digging
informal, (tr) to like, understand, or appreciate
slang, (intr) to work hard, esp for an examination
informal, (intr) to have lodgings
I dig in South London

noun

the act of digging
a thrust or poke, esp in the ribs
a cutting or sarcastic remark
informal, an archaeological excavation

Dig

/ dɪɡ /

noun

informal, short for Digger

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dig¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English diggen, deggen; perhaps from Middle French diguer “to dig,” from the same Germanic source as ditch ( def. )

Origin of dig²

First recorded in 1935–40; origin uncertain; perhaps the same as dig ¹ ( def. )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dig¹

C13 diggen, of uncertain origin

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Watch these and then keep digging for treasure.

From Los Angeles Times

And the deeper you go into the store, the more the store begins to dig its talons into you.

From Los Angeles Times

Now that he has buried them, is Martin Jarmond the right person to dig them out?

From Los Angeles Times

A senior Whitehall figure said it would have been possible to locate those messages had more questions been asked, and forensic background digging been done.

From BBC

Yet a senior Whitehall figure tells me it would have been possible to locate those messages had more questions been asked, and forensic background digging been done.

From BBC

Related Words

difunctional Digambara

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