(~s, ~ging, dug)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If people or animals ~, they make a hole in the ground or in a pile of earth, stones, or rubbish.
They tried ~ging in a patch just below the cave...
Dig a largish hole and bang the stake in first...
Rescue workers are ~ging through the rubble in search of other victims...
They dug for shellfish at low tide...
VERB: V, V n, V through n, V for n
2.
If you ~ into something such as a deep container, you put your hand in it to search for something.
He dug into his coat pocket for his keys.
= delve
VERB: V into/in n
3.
If you ~ one thing into another or if one thing ~s into another, the first thing is pushed hard into the second, or presses hard into it.
She ~s the serving spoon into the moussaka...
He could feel the beads ~ging into his palm...
VERB: V n into n, V into n
4.
If you ~ into a subject or a store of information, you study it very carefully in order to discover or check facts.
The enquiry dug deeper into the alleged financial misdeeds of his government...
He has been ~ging into the local archives...
= probe
VERB: V into n, V into n
5.
If you ~ yourself out of a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one which you caused yourself, you manage to get out of it.
He’s taken these measures to try and ~ himself out of a hole.
VERB: V pron-refl
6.
A ~ is an organized activity in which people ~ into the ground in order to discover ancient historical objects.
He’s an archaeologist and has been on a ~ in Crete for the past year.
= excavation
N-COUNT: oft on N
7.
If you have a ~ at someone, you say something which is intended to make fun of them or upset them.
She couldn’t resist a ~ at Dave after his unfortunate performance.
= gibe
N-COUNT: usu N at n
8.
If you give someone a ~ in a part of their body, you push them with your finger or your elbow, usually as a warning or as a joke.
N-COUNT
9.
If you live in ~s, you live in a room in someone else’s house and pay them rent. (BRIT INFORMAL, OLD-FASHIONED)
He went to London and lived in ~s in Gloucester Road...
= lodgings
N-PLURAL: oft in N
10.
to ~ one’s heels in: see heel