dug

[ duhg ]

/ dʌg /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dug ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

a simple past tense and past participle of dig¹ and dig².

Words nearby dug

duffer, duffle coat, duffy, dufus, dufy, dug, dugas' test, dugento, dugite, dugong, dugout

Definition for dug (2 of 4)

dug²

[ duhg ]

/ dʌg /

noun

the mamma or the nipple of a female mammal.

Origin of dug

1520–30; origin obscure; perhaps < a Germanic base akin to Danish dægge, Norwegian degge, Swedish dägga to suckle

Definition for dug (3 of 4)

dig¹

[ dig ]

/ dɪg /

verb (used without object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

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 or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often followed by up).

to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.

to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often followed by up or out).

to find or discover by effort or search.

to poke, thrust, or force (usually followed by in or into): 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.

digs, Informal. living quarters; lodgings.

Verb Phrases

dig in,

to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.
to maintain one's opinion or position.
to start eating.

dig into, Informal. to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically: to dig into one's work; to dig into a meal.

dig out,

to remove earth or debris from by digging.
to hollow out by digging.
to find by searching: to dig out facts for a term paper.

dig up,

to discover in the course of digging.
to locate; find: to dig up information.

Origin of dig

1275–1325; Middle English diggen, perhaps representing an OE derivative of dīc ditch; Middle French diguer to dig (< Middle Dutch) is attested later and apparently not the immediate source

Definition for dug (4 of 4)

dig²

[ dig ]

/ dɪg /

verb (used with object), dug, dig·ging. Slang.

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.

Origin of dig

1935–40; perhaps < Irish (an) dtuig(eann tú mé?) do you understand me? and parallel expressions with tuigim I understand (see twig²)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dug

Occasionally someone climbed over it or crashed through it or dug under it, or made himself a glider and flew through it.
The Stacks: How The Berlin Wall Inspired John le Carré’s First Masterpiece|John le Carré|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And in Italy, the 16th-century body of an old woman was dug up in 2006 with a brick in her mouth.
Bulgaria’s Vampire Graveyards|Nina Strochlic|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Following a storm of criticism, Franck dug in on the comparison in two further posts.
The Right Wing Screams for the Wambulance Over Gay Marriage Ruling|Walter Olson|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When I dug around, I discovered that their creation is surprisingly simple.
National Liquor Days Are a Joke|Kayleigh Kulp|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The second outing, “The Junior Professor Solution,” dug deeper into the same theme.
It’s OK to Like ‘The Big Bang Theory’|Kevin Fallon|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I repaired the carts; made paths in the garden, dug the beds, painted the roofs.
The House with the Mezzanine and Other Stories|Anton Tchekoff
How he had planned, dug, planted it; pruned his fruit trees; placed his anemones in leaf-mould, his bulbs on sand.
Christmas Roses and Other Stories|Anne Douglas Sedgwick
They all made a tour of the mine which had been dug a considerable distance into the mountain.
Deadwood Dick, The Prince of the Road|Edward L. Wheeler
It gets its power from the ocean, a tunnel having been dug out under the water and thence upwards so as to cause great pressure.
Journeys and Experiences in Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile|Henry Stephens
She dug again, dug a good while; pulled and pulled, until at last she drew him out.
Creation Myths of Primitive America|Jeremiah Curtin

British Dictionary definitions for dug (1 of 5)

dug¹

/ (dʌɡ) /

verb

the past tense and past participle of dig

British Dictionary definitions for dug (2 of 5)

dug²

/ (dʌɡ) /

noun

the nipple, teat, udder, or breast of a female mammal

a human breast, esp when old and withered

Word Origin for dug

C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish dægge to coddle, Gothic daddjan to give suck

British Dictionary definitions for dug (3 of 5)

dug³

/ (dʌɡ) /

noun

a Scot word for dog

British Dictionary definitions for dug (4 of 5)

Dig

/ (dɪɡ) /

noun

NZ informal short for Digger (def. 1)

British Dictionary definitions for dug (5 of 5)

dig

/ (dɪɡ) /

verb digs, digging or dug

(when tr, often foll by up) 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, etcto dig a tunnel

(often foll by through) to make or force (one's way), esp by removing obstructionshe dug his way through the crowd

(tr; often foll by out or up) to obtain by diggingto dig potatoes; to dig up treasure

(tr; often foll by out or up) to find or discover by effort or searchingto dig out unexpected facts

(tr; foll by in or into) to thrust or jab (a sharp instrument, weapon, etc); pokehe dug his spurs into the horse's side

(tr; foll by in or into) to mix (compost, etc) with soil by digging

(tr) informal to like, understand, or appreciate

(intr) US slang to work hard, esp for an examination

(intr) British informal to have lodgingsI 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

Word Origin for dig

C13 diggen, of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dug

verb

Content related to dug

Words related to dug

Words nearby dug

Definition for dug (2 of 4)

noun

Origin of dug

Definition for dug (3 of 4)

verb (used without object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

verb (used with object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of dig

Definition for dug (4 of 4)

verb (used with object), dug, dig·ging. Slang.

Origin of dig

Examples from the Web for dug

British Dictionary definitions for dug (1 of 5)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for dug (2 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for dug

British Dictionary definitions for dug (3 of 5)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for dug (4 of 5)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for dug (5 of 5)

verb digs, digging or dug

noun

Word Origin for dig