/eks"keuh vayt'/ , v.t., excavated, excavating .
1. 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.
2. to make (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.
3. to dig or scoop out (earth, sand, etc.).
4. to expose or lay bare by or as if by digging; unearth: to excavate an ancient city.
[ 1590-1600; excavatus (ptp. of excavare to hollow out), equiv. to ex- EX- 1 + cav ( um ) hollow, CAVE + -atus -ATE 1 ]