excavate
[ eks-kuh-veyt ]
/ ˈɛks kəˌveɪt /
verb (used with object), ex·ca·vat·ed, ex·ca·vat·ing.
to make hollow by removing the inner part; make a hole or cavity in; form into a hollow, as by digging: The ground was excavated for a foundation.
to make (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.
to dig or scoop out (earth, sand, etc.).
to expose or lay bare by or as if by digging; unearth: to excavate an ancient city.
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Origin of excavate
OTHER WORDS FROM excavate
re·ex·ca·vate, verb (used with object), re·ex·ca·vat·ed, re·ex·ca·vat·ing.un·ex·ca·vat·ed, adjectiveWords nearby excavate
excalation, Excalibur, excardination, ex cathedra, excaudate, excavate, excavation, excavation of optic disk, excavator, Excedrin, exceed
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for excavate
British Dictionary definitions for excavate
excavate
/ (ˈɛkskəˌveɪt) /
verb
to remove (soil, earth, etc) by digging; dig out
to make (a hole, cavity, or tunnel) in (solid matter) by hollowing or removing the centre or inner partto excavate a tooth
to unearth (buried objects) methodically in an attempt to discover information about the past
Derived forms of excavate
excavation, nounWord Origin for excavate
C16: from Latin excavāre, from cavāre to make hollow, from cavus hollow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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