dig

[ dig ]

/ dɪg /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dig ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

to break up, turn over, or remove earth, sand, etc., as with a shovel, spade, bulldozer, or claw; make an excavation.

to make one's way or work by or as by removing or turning over material: to dig through the files.

verb (used with object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often followed by up).

to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.

to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often followed by up or out).

to find or discover by effort or search.

to poke, thrust, or force (usually followed by in or into): He dug his heel into the ground.

noun

thrust; poke: He gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow.

a cutting, sarcastic remark.

an archaeological site undergoing excavation.

digs, Informal. living quarters; lodgings.

Verb Phrases

dig in,

to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.
to maintain one's opinion or position.
to start eating.

dig into, Informal. to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically: to dig into one's work; to dig into a meal.

dig out,

to remove earth or debris from by digging.
to hollow out by digging.
to find by searching: to dig out facts for a term paper.

dig up,

to discover in the course of digging.
to locate; find: to dig up information.

Origin of dig

1275–1325; Middle English diggen, perhaps representing an OE derivative of dīc ditch; Middle French diguer to dig (< Middle Dutch) is attested later and apparently not the immediate source

Words nearby dig

diffusor, diflorasone diacetate, difluence, diflunisal, difunctional, dig, dig down, dig in, dig one's own grave, dig out, dig up

Definition for digging (2 of 2)

dig ²

[ dig ]

/ dɪg /

verb (used with object), dug, dig·ging. Slang.

to understand: Can you dig what I'm saying?

to take notice of: Dig those shoes he's wearing.

to like, love, or enjoy: She digs that kind of music. We really dig each other.

Origin of dig

1935–40; perhaps < Irish ( an) dtuig(eann tú mé?) do you understand me? and parallel expressions with tuigim I understand (see twig²)

Example sentences from the Web for digging

He said he spent his time doing “Mickey Mouse make-work,” digging though old records for long-abandoned well sites.

Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired. |David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News |December 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“There are various iterations of my life out there,” says Billy Hayes, digging into his Eggs Benedict at a Manhattan diner.

The Unbelievable (True) Story of the World’s Most Infamous Hash Smuggler |Marlow Stern |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She said: “They said that because of a by-law I had to have the body cremated or buried within 24 hours after digging it up.”

Hope and Change? Burma Kills a Journalist Before Obama Arrives |Joshua Carroll |November 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
During construction, many men, indentured servants in the beginning, were blown apart during the blasting and digging.

Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism |William O’Connor |October 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Wahlberg chimes in with the hint of a smirk: “The hard days of digging ditches!”

Jenny McCarthy: I Am Not Anti-Vaccine |Lloyd Grove |October 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It is quite impossible for me to decide if, by digging straight down, I shall come to a hollow cell or to a solid wall.

The Mason-bees |J. Henri Fabre
"You must make them pay for the privilege of digging," I suggested.

The Lightning Conductor Discovers America |C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson and A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson
It pertained to the digging of a grave in front of the barred window.

'19,000' |Burford Delannoy
If digging is permitted, the trenches will now be constructed, and care will be taken that they are actually finished.

Manual of Military Training |James A. Moss
The figure, naked from the waist up, huddled upon the hard-baked mud, digging madly at the earth.

Average Jones |Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for digging (1 of 2)

Dig

/ (dɪɡ) /

noun

NZ informal short for Digger (def. 1)

British Dictionary definitions for digging (2 of 2)

dig

/ (dɪɡ) /

verb digs, digging or dug

(when tr, often foll by up) to cut into, break up, and turn over or remove (earth, soil, etc), esp with a spade

to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, passage, etc) by digging, usually with an implement or (of animals) with feet, claws, etc to dig a tunnel

(often foll by through) to make or force (one's way), esp by removing obstructions he dug his way through the crowd

(tr; often foll by out or up) to obtain by digging to dig potatoes; to dig up treasure

(tr; often foll by out or up) to find or discover by effort or searching to dig out unexpected facts

(tr; foll by in or into) to thrust or jab (a sharp instrument, weapon, etc); poke he dug his spurs into the horse's side

(tr; foll by in or into) to mix (compost, etc) with soil by digging

(tr) informal to like, understand, or appreciate

(intr) US slang to work hard, esp for an examination

(intr) British informal to have lodgings I dig in South London

noun

the act of digging

a thrust or poke, esp in the ribs

a cutting or sarcastic remark

informal an archaeological excavation

Word Origin for dig

C13 diggen, of uncertain origin

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

dig

verb (used without object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

verb (used with object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of dig

Words nearby dig

Definition for digging (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), dug, dig·ging. Slang.

Origin of dig

Example sentences from the Web for digging

British Dictionary definitions for digging (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for digging (2 of 2)

verb digs, digging or dug

noun

Word Origin for dig

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

dig

verb (used without object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

verb (used with object), dug or (Archaic) digged, dig·ging.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of dig

Words nearby dig

Definition for digging (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), dug, dig·ging. Slang.

Origin of dig

Words related to digging

Example sentences from the Web for digging

British Dictionary definitions for digging (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for digging (2 of 2)

verb digs, digging or dug

noun

Word Origin for dig