excavate

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Archaeology

ex·ca·vate /ˈekskəveɪt/ verb [intransitive, transitive]  1  SXif a scientist or archaeologist excavates an area of land, they dig carefully to find ancient objects, bones etc 〔科学家或考古学家〕发掘，挖出〔古物等〕 Schliemann excavated the ancient city of Troy. 谢里曼发掘出特洛伊古城。► see thesaurus at dig →4  See picture of 见图 DIG →5 see picture at 见图 dig12. formalDIG to make a hole in the ground by digging up soil etc 挖掘；开凿 —excavation /ˌekskəˈveɪʃən/ noun [countable, uncountable]→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

excavate• The site, needed for a parking lot, was entombed without being excavated.• Archaeologists are excavating a Bronze Age settlement on the outskirts of the village.• The turtle excavates a hole in the sand and then lays its eggs in it.• The stone-lined privy pit was excavated a year ago by an archaeology field class from City College.• As on land, ocean impact explosions excavate huge craters.• The mosaics excavated in 1989 have now been fully restored.• For a time he worked with archaeologists from the University of California excavating ruins near Kayenta, Arizona.• Work is under way to excavate the ancient city.• Workers had already begun excavating the foundations for the house.• A very large amount of gravel would be excavated to form the channel.• Until recently new pits were continually being excavated while others are being filled with refuse.Origin excavate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of excavare, from cavus “hollow”

ex·ca·vate verbChineseSyllable  

excavates archaeologist if or Corpus an a scientist

excavate
ex‧ca‧vate /ˈekskəveɪt/ verb [intransitive and transitive]1. if a scientist or archaeologist excavates an area of land, they dig carefully to find ancient objects, bones etc:
    Schliemann excavated the ancient city of Troy.
2. formal to make a hole in the ground by digging up soil etc
—excavation /ˌekskəˈveɪʃən/ noun [uncountable and countable]
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ 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.

ex·cav·ateBrE /ˈekskəveɪt/ 🔊NAmE /ˈekskəveɪt/ 🔊 verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they excavate BrE /ˈekskəveɪt/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈekskəveɪt/ 🔊present simple - he / she / it excavates BrE /ˈekskəveɪts/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈekskəveɪts/ 🔊past simple excavated BrE /ˈekskəveɪtɪd/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈekskəveɪtɪd/ 🔊past participle excavated BrE /ˈekskəveɪtɪd/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈekskəveɪtɪd/ 🔊 -ing form excavating BrE /ˈekskəveɪtɪŋ/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈekskəveɪtɪŋ/ 🔊to dig in the ground to look for old buildings or objects that have been buried for a long time; to find sth by digging in this way 发掘，挖出（古建筑或古物）◆~ sth The site has been excavated by archaeologists. 这个遗址已被考古学家发掘出来。🔊🔊◆~ sth from sth pottery and weapons excavated from the burial site从墓地挖掘出的陶器和兵器~ sth (formal) to make a hole, etc. in the ground by digging 挖掘，开凿，挖空（洞、隧道等）◆The body was discovered when builders excavated the area. 建筑工人挖地时发现了这具尸体。🔊🔊