excavate

[ eks-kuh-veyt ]
/ ˈɛks kəˌveɪt /

verb (used with object), ex·ca·vat·ed, ex·ca·vat·ing.

to make hollow by removing the inner part; make a hole or cavity in; form into a hollow, as by digging: The ground was excavated for a foundation.
to make (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.
to dig or scoop out (earth, sand, etc.).
to expose or lay bare by or as if by digging; unearth: to excavate an ancient city.

Origin of excavate

1590–1600; < Latin excavātus (past participle of excavāre to hollow out), equivalent to ex- ex-1 + cav(um) hollow, cave + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM excavate

re·ex·ca·vate, verb (used with object), re·ex·ca·vat·ed, re·ex·ca·vat·ing. un·ex·ca·vat·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for excavated

British Dictionary definitions for excavated

excavate
/ (ˈɛkskəˌveɪt) /

verb

to remove (soil, earth, etc) by digging; dig out
to make (a hole, cavity, or tunnel) in (solid matter) by hollowing or removing the centre or inner part to excavate a tooth
to unearth (buried objects) methodically in an attempt to discover information about the past

Derived forms of excavate

excavation, noun

Word Origin for excavate

C16: from Latin excavāre, from cavāre to make hollow, from cavus hollow