ˈekskəˌvāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin excavatus, past participle of excavare, from ex- ex- (I) + cavare to make hollow, from cavus hollow — more at cave
transitive verb
1. : to hollow out : form a cavity or hole in
excavating the side of a hill
an excavated wisdom tooth
2. : to form by hollowing : shape by removing material so as to leave a space
will excavate the cellar as soon as the frost goes
excavated a tunnel under the river
3. : to dig out and remove (as earth or mineral matter)
over a million tons of rich ore were excavated from that one pocket
4. : to expose to view by or as if by digging away a covering
excavated the remains of 10 separate cultures
excavated several forgotten accounts of the brawl
intransitive verb
: to make excavations or become hollowed out
the mollusk uses its pointed foot to excavate in the mud
an area of infarction in soft tissue often tends to excavate
Synonyms: see dig