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excavate

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Excavate is defined as to dig a hole, or to uncover and remove something from the ground.

(verb)

When a home builder digs a big hole to create the basement of a house, this is an example of when he excavates.
When scientists carefully dig up dirt because they believe important artifacts are buried underneath, this is an example of when they excavate.

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See excavate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb excavated, excavating

to make a hole or cavity in, as by digging; hollow out
to form by hollowing out; dig: to excavate a tunnel
to uncover or expose by digging; unearth: to excavate ancient ruins
to dig out (earth, soil, etc.)

Origin: < L excavatus, pp. of excavare < ex-, out + cavare, to make hollow < cavus, hollow: see cave

intransitive verb

to make an excavation

See excavate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb ex·ca·vat·ed, ex·ca·vat·ing, ex·ca·vates

verb, transitive

To make a hole in; hollow out: excavate an ore-rich hillside.
To form by hollowing out.
To remove by digging or scooping out.
To expose or uncover by or as if by digging: excavate an archaeological site.

verb, intransitive

To engage in digging, hollowing out, or removing.

Origin:

Origin: Latin excavāre, excavāt-, to hollow out

Origin: : ex-, ex-

Origin: + cavāre, to hollow (from cavus, hollow; see keuə- in Indo-European roots)

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