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excavation. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
excavation, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
excavation in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
excavation you have here. The definition of the word
excavation will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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English
Etymology
From Latin excavātiō (“a hollowing out”), from excavō (“I hollow out”), from ex + cavō (“I hollow out”), from cavus (“hollow”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh₁- (“vault, hole”).
Pronunciation
Noun
excavation (countable and uncountable, plural excavations)
- (uncountable) The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
- (countable) A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
1924 March, E. J. Garwood, “Himalayan Glaciation”, in The Geographical Journal, volume LXIII, number 3, London: Royal Geographic Society, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 244:Prof. Dainelli made a personal study of the lakes of the Upper Indus lying between its confluence with the Gilgit on the west and the plains of Kashmir on the east. From this district he cites fifty lakes and groups of lakes. Many of these are moraine-dammed, but some of the larger ones, as the Satpor Tso, the Tso Moriri, the Chiun Tso, and the group of lakes associated with the Pángong Tso, he considers to have originated by glacial excavation.
- (countable) An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel.
- (countable) The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.
- (uncountable) Archaeological research that unearths buildings, tombs and objects of historical value.
- (countable) A site where an archaeological exploration is being carried out.
- (countable) Something uncovered by archaeological excavation.
1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, →ISBN, page 392:To date, [Taco's 1982 cover of Irving Berlin's 1935] "Cheek To Cheek" and similar auditory excavations have fared poorly.
Derived terms
Translations
act of excavating, or of making hollow
uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel
material dug out in making a channel or cavity
archaeological excavation
French
Pronunciation
Noun
excavation f (plural excavations)
- excavation
Further reading