See Also: excavate(1)(dictionary)
excavate(2)(dictionary)
excavate(dictionary)

excavate(2) (iou)



excavate verb. L16.
[Latin excavat- pa. ppl stem of excavare, formed as EX-1 1 + cavare make or become hollow, from cavus hollow: see -ATE3.]
verb trans. Make hollow by removing material from inside; make a hollow or hollows in; esp. remove material from (the ground) so as to make a hole. L16.
Dickens The foot of the cliff is excavated into a cavern.
verb trans. Make (a hole, channel, etc.) by removing material. M19.
C. Lyell One of them began to excavate a hole.
verb trans. Uncover or investigate by digging; unearth (lit. & fig.); esp. make a systematic exploration of (an archaeological site) by this means. M19.
J. A. Michener He had dreamed of excavating one of the silent mounds in the Holy Land. American Notes & Queries It excavates thousands of titles not found in the usual bibliographies.
verb trans. Extract by digging. M19.
Mining Magazine About 60,000 t of gold ore had been excavated at the mine.
verb intrans. Make an excavation; take part in an archaeological excavation. M19.
E. Wilson The deeper I have excavated, the more surely I have satisfied myself that the best was underneath.