Digger: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used in casual conversation or general contexts to refer to any machine or person that digs.

• The digger started moving soil early in the morning
• Children love playing with toy diggers in the sandbox

Typically used in professional or technical contexts to describe large, heavy-duty machines used for excavation, often with a rotating platform and a long boom arm.

• The construction site had several excavators for different tasks
• The operator skillfully maneuvered the excavator to clear the debris

Used to refer to a manual tool or to small-scale or less formal digging activities. Can also imply physical labor.

• He used a shovel to clear the snow from the driveway
• Gardeners often prefer a sturdy shovel for their planting needs

Commonly used in construction and engineering to refer to a specific type of heavy equipment with a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm.

• The backhoe was used to dig the foundation for the new building
• The crew operated the backhoe carefully to avoid underground pipes

Typically used to describe a person who physically digs, usually for a job like archaeology or construction.

• The digger carefully unearthed the ancient artifacts.
• As a digger, he spent most of his day at the construction site.