ex ‧ ca ‧ vate /ˈekskəveɪt/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of excavare , from cavus 'hollow' ]
1 . if a scientist or ↑ archaeologist excavates an area of land, they dig carefully to find ancient objects, bones etc:
Schliemann excavated the ancient city of Troy.
2 . formal to make a hole in the ground by digging up soil etc
—excavation /ˌekskəˈveɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable and countable]
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THESAURUS
▪ dig to make a hole in the ground using your hands, a tool, or a machine:
Some workmen were digging a trench at the side of the road.
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In Africa, the people know where to dig for water.
▪ make a hole to dig a hole in the ground, using your hands or a tool:
Make a hole just big enough for the plant’s roots.
▪ burrow /ˈbʌrəʊ $ ˈbɜːroʊ/ if an animal burrows, it makes a hole or a passage in the ground by digging the earth with its feet, nose etc:
The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence.
▪ plough British English , plow American English /plaʊ/ to turn over the soil using a machine or a tool pulled by animals, to prepare the soil for planting seeds:
The farmers here still plough their fields using buffaloes.
▪ excavate /ˈekskəveɪt/ formal to dig a large hole in the ground, especially as a preparation for building something:
The men began excavating the hole for the pool.
▪ bore to make a deep round hole in the ground using a special machine, especially in order to look for oil or water:
Companies need a special licence to bore for oil.