dig
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++dig1 /dɪɡ/ ●●● S2 verb (past tense and past participle dug /dʌɡ/, present participle digging) 1 [intransitive, transitive]DIG to move earth, snow etc, or to make a hole in the ground, using a spade or your hands 挖（土等），掘（洞）dig a hole/trench/grave etc They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs. 它们在沙地里掘一个小洞，把蛋掩埋在里面。dig down Dig down about 6 inches. 往下挖大约六英寸深。dig for birds digging for worms 刨土找虫吃的鸟2 [transitive] to remove something, especially vegetables, from the ground using a spade 挖，掘〔尤指蔬菜〕 freshly dug carrots 刚挖出来的胡萝卜3 [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put your hand into something, especially in order to search for something 把手伸入；〔尤指〕翻找，搜寻 She dug around in her bag for a pen. 她在包里翻找钢笔。 He dug his hands deep into his pockets. 他把双手深深插进口袋里。4. dig your heels in to refuse to do something in spite of other people’s efforts to persuade you 坚持己见，拒不让步5 dig deep to use something which you have, especially money or effort, which you would not normally need 花大力气，动用〔一般不用的〕金钱或精力 With one man sent off, the team had to dig deep and hang on for a draw. 一名队员被罚下场后，球队只好费九牛二虎之力保个平局。6. dig a hole for yourself (also dig yourself into a hole) to get yourself into a difficult situation by doing or saying the wrong thing 自食其果，自找麻烦7. dig somebody out of trouble/a mess/a hole etc to help a person or organization get out of trouble 帮助某人摆脱困境8. dig your own grave PROBLEMto do something that will cause serious problems for you in the future 自掘坟墓，自取灭亡，自讨苦吃9 [transitive]LIKE somebody OR something old-fashioned to like something 喜欢 I dig that hat! 我喜欢那顶帽子！ THESAURUSdig to make a hole in the ground using your hands, a tool, or a machine 〔用手、工具或机器〕挖（洞）Some workmen were digging a trench at the side of the road. 一些工人在路边开沟。In Africa, the people know where to dig for water. 在非洲,人们知道在哪里掘井取水。make a hole to dig a hole in the ground, using your hands or a tool 〔用手或工具〕挖洞Make a hole just big enough for the plant’s roots. 挖一个正好能容下植物根部的坑。burrow /ˈbʌrəʊ $ ˈbɜːroʊ/ if an animal burrows, it makes a hole or a passage in the ground by digging the earth with its feet, nose etc 〔动物〕挖地洞,钻地道The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence. 兔子在篱笆底下打了个洞。plough British English, plow American English /plaʊ/ to turn over the soil using a machine or a tool pulled by animals, to prepare the soil for planting seeds 犁（地）,耕（地）The farmers here still plough their fields using buffaloes. 这里的农民依然用水牛犁地。excavate /ˈekskəveɪt/ formal to dig a large hole in the ground, especially as a preparation for building something 〔尤为建造某物准备〕挖掘The men began excavating the hole for the pool. 那些人开始开挖池塘。bore to make a deep round hole in the ground using a special machine, especially in order to look for oil or water 〔尤为寻找石油或水〕开凿Companies need a special licence to bore for oil. 公司钻探石油需要特别许可证。 PHRASAL VERBS→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
dig• The workmen began digging a hole in the middle of the road.• Let us now dig a little deeper into this theory and try to appreciate Abelard's thought from within.• Trespass can therefore be committed by a person who digs a tunnel under land or who abuses the airspace.• If there is a big quake, many homeowners would have to dig deep into their own funds, he said.• He was paid twelve dollars an hour to dig ditches and mix cement.• There were two fishermen on the beach digging for worms.• Benjamin then dug his hand into the empty manger and plucked out the remains of the horse's feed.• I found two dogs digging in the garden, looking for bones.• Jessica dug in the sand with a small shovel.• They started to dig in to help me put this thing together.• The whole family was out in the fields digging potatoes.• We landed too close to some trenches the gooks had dug right next to the Pleime compound.• I really dig that dress.• "She says she doesn't want to get pregnant." "Yeah, I can dig that."• Some of the prisoners escaped through a tunnel they had dug under the wall.dig for• Boyden is digging for details about Thompson's activities.• They're digging for dinosaur bones.• She reached into her daypack to dig for her keys.dig2 noun [countable] 1 JOKECRITICIZEa joke or remark that you make to annoy or criticize someone 挖苦，嘲讽2 give somebody a dig PUSHto push someone quickly and lightly with your finger or elbow 〔用手指或肘部〕触某人，碰某人，戳某人3 SXan organized process of digging in order to find ancient objects for study 〔考古上的〕发掘4 digs [plural]DHB British English old-fashioned a room that you pay rent to live in 租住的房间Examples from the Corpus
dig• Her come-back to the application dig died in her throat.• an archeological dig• Despite my apprehension, Daphne turned out to be a wonderful companion to share digs with.• Successful dig - both rabbit and ferret are in sight.• The dig might require such a specialist, trained to handle hazardous materials.• They would be marshalled back to their digs, proudly wearing their uniforms.have a dig• Above all, what performers sensitive to the original performing context of this music have dug deep into this seam of riches?• Several coalition partners who hold important ministerial portfolios have dug in their heels.• It preserves a beauty spot for us all to enjoy, and they wouldn't have dug much coal out anyway.• If the weather had held and still been hot and dry would they have dug deeper?• As Lovelock noted, we have dug up no ancient rocks without also digging up ancient life preserved in them.archaeological dig• Sad excuse for a car park, and soil left unwanted after an archaeological dig.• Wanuskewin is a museum, a school, a philanthropy and an archaeological dig.• Read in studio Welcome back: Large numbers of skeletons buried in a mass grave have been unearthed by an archaeological dig.• We helped out on an archaeological dig in Ohio.• The Doctor and his companion were led across a field to an archaeological dig.• Driving into the mountains here is like visiting an archaeological dig.• And we were like bankrolling this entire archaeological dig, you know, the two of us, basically.• The rate includes room, all meals, all daytime activities except a nearby archaeological dig, Belikin beer and soft drinks.Origin dig1 (1100-1200) Perhaps from Old English dic “ditch”make etc, or Corpus to snow to earth, move
dig
dig1 S2 /dɪɡ/ 
verb (past tense and past participle dug /dʌɡ/, present participle digging)
dig a hole/trench/grave etc
They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs.
dig down
Dig down about 6 inches.
dig for
birds digging for worms
2. [transitive] to remove something, especially vegetables, from the ground using a spade:
freshly dug carrots
3. [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put your hand into something, especially in order to search for something:
She dug around in her bag for a pen.
He dug his hands deep into his pockets.
4. dig your heels in to refuse to do something in spite of other people’s efforts to persuade you
5. dig deep to use something which you have, especially money or effort, which you would not normally need:
With one man sent off, the team had to dig deep and hang on for a draw.
6. dig a hole for yourself (also dig yourself into a hole) to get yourself into a difficult situation by doing or saying the wrong thing
7. dig somebody out of trouble/a mess/a hole etc to help a person or organization get out of trouble
8. dig your own grave to do something that will cause serious problems for you in the future
9. [transitive] old-fashioned to like something:
I dig that hat!
▪ dig to make a hole in the ground using your hands, a tool, or a machine: Some workmen were digging a trench at the side of the road. | In Africa, the people know where to dig for water.
▪make a hole to dig a hole in the ground, using your hands or a tool: Make a hole just big enough for the plant’s roots.
▪burrow /ˈbʌrəʊ $ ˈbɜːroʊ/ if an animal burrows, it makes a hole or a passage in the ground by digging the earth with its feet, nose etc: The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence.
▪plough British English, plow American English /plaʊ/ to turn over the soil using a machine or a tool pulled by animals, to prepare the soil for planting seeds: The farmers here still plough their fields using buffaloes.
▪excavate /ˈekskəveɪt/ formal to dig a large hole in the ground, especially as a preparation for building something: The men began excavating the hole for the pool.
▪bore to make a deep round hole in the ground using a special machine, especially in order to look for oil or water: Companies need a special licence to bore for oil.
dig in phrasal verb
1. dig something ↔ in (also dig something into something) to mix something into soil by digging:
Dig some fertilizer into the soil first.
2. (also dig (something) into something) to push a hard or pointed object into something, especially someone’s body, or to press into something:
She dug her fingernails into his arm.
dig something ↔ in
He dug his spurs in and urged his horse on.
I could feel one of the hooks digging in.
3. if a group of people, especially soldiers, dig in, they make a protected place for themselves or prepare for a difficult situation:
The troops dug in along the defensive line.
We just have to dig in and hope we can turn things around.
4. (also dig into something) informal to start eating food that is in front of you:
Go on – dig in!
He was already digging into his pie and chips.
dig into something phrasal verb
1. to start using a supply of something, especially money:
I’m going to have to dig into my savings again.
2. to try to find out about something unknown or secret:
He had been digging into her past. ⇨ dig in
dig something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. to get something out of earth, snow etc using a spade or your hands
dig something ↔ out of
We had to dig the car out of a snow drift.
2. to find something you have not seen for a long time, or that is not easy to find:
I must remember to dig out that book for you.
dig something ↔ up phrasal verb
1. to remove something from the earth using a spade:
I’ll dig up that plant and move it.
2. to remove the surface of an area of ground, road etc, or to make holes in it:
They’re digging up the road just outside my flat.
3. to find hidden or forgotten information by careful searching:
They tried to dig up something from his past to spoil his chances of being elected.
dig2 noun [countable]
1. a joke or remark that you make to annoy or criticize someone
dig at
He couldn’t resist a dig at the referee.
Here was a chance to have a dig at trade unionists.
2. give somebody a dig to push someone quickly and lightly with your finger or elbow:
Ginnie gave her sister a dig in the ribs.
3. an organized process of digging in order to find ancient objects for study:
an archaeological dig
4. digs [plural] British English old-fashioned a room that you pay rent to live in
in digs
He’s 42 and still living in digs.
▪ comment something that you say or write in order to give your opinion: Does anyone have any comments? | Readers are invited to send in their comments and suggestions.
▪remark something that you say: Just ignore them if they start making rude remarks. | I’m not sure what he meant by that last remark.
▪point something that someone mentions about a subject in a discussion, argument, article etc: That’s an interesting point, Steve. | He raises (=mentions) a number of important points in his paper.
▪observation a comment in which you say what you think or have noticed about something: Karl Marx made the observation that history repeats itself first as tragedy, second as farce.
▪aside a comment made in a low voice, that you intend only certain people to hear: ‘Is that true?’, she whispered in an aside to Don.
▪quip /kwɪp/ a clever and amusing comment: She knew she should reply with some light-hearted quip.
▪dig informal a comment you make to annoy or criticize someone: I’m tired of her little digs at me.
▪taunt /tɔːnt $ tɒːnt/ a comment intended to make someone angry or upset: The fans made racist taunts throughout the game.
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verb (past tense and past participle dug /dʌɡ/, present participle digging) Date: 1100-1200
Origin: Perhaps from Old English dic 'ditch'
1. [intransitive and transitive] to move earth, snow etc, or to make a hole in the ground, using a spade or your handsOrigin: Perhaps from Old English dic 'ditch'
dig a hole/trench/grave etc
dig down
dig for
2. [transitive] to remove something, especially vegetables, from the ground using a spade:
3. [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put your hand into something, especially in order to search for something:
4. dig your heels in to refuse to do something in spite of other people’s efforts to persuade you
5. dig deep to use something which you have, especially money or effort, which you would not normally need:
6. dig a hole for yourself (also dig yourself into a hole) to get yourself into a difficult situation by doing or saying the wrong thing
7. dig somebody out of trouble/a mess/a hole etc to help a person or organization get out of trouble
8. dig your own grave to do something that will cause serious problems for you in the future
9. [transitive] old-fashioned to like something:
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dig in phrasal verb
1. dig something ↔ in (also dig something into something) to mix something into soil by digging:
2. (also dig (something) into something) to push a hard or pointed object into something, especially someone’s body, or to press into something:
dig something ↔ in
3. if a group of people, especially soldiers, dig in, they make a protected place for themselves or prepare for a difficult situation:
4. (also dig into something) informal to start eating food that is in front of you:
dig into something phrasal verb
1. to start using a supply of something, especially money:
2. to try to find out about something unknown or secret:
dig something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. to get something out of earth, snow etc using a spade or your hands
dig something ↔ out of
2. to find something you have not seen for a long time, or that is not easy to find:
dig something ↔ up phrasal verb
1. to remove something from the earth using a spade:
2. to remove the surface of an area of ground, road etc, or to make holes in it:
3. to find hidden or forgotten information by careful searching:
| II |
noun [countable]1. a joke or remark that you make to annoy or criticize someone
dig at
2. give somebody a dig to push someone quickly and lightly with your finger or elbow:
3. an organized process of digging in order to find ancient objects for study:
4. digs [plural] British English old-fashioned a room that you pay rent to live in
in digs
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