Excavating: meaning, definitions and examples

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excavating

[ˈɛkskəˌveɪtɪŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

archaeology

The process of removing earth to uncover archaeological remains, such as artifacts, structures, or human remains.

Synonyms

digging, disinterring, unearthing.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
excavating	Used mainly in construction and archaeology when removing earth to create something new or to uncover old structures. The construction crew is excavating the site for the new building Archaeologists are excavating the ancient ruins
digging	Commonly used in everyday language for any activity that involves breaking and removing earth, often with a focus on practical or manual tasks. He spent the afternoon digging a hole for the new tree The dog was digging in the backyard
unearthing	Often used when discovering something hidden, lost, or buried, with an emphasis on the finding or revealing aspect. The researchers are unearthing clues about prehistoric life She unearthed an old family photo album in the attic
disinterring	Typically used in more formal or specific contexts, especially when talking about the act of removing a buried body or object. Often has a negative or somber connotation. The authorities obtained permission to disinter the buried remains for further investigation The historian disinterred old manuscripts from the archives

Examples of usage

Archaeologists are excavating a site that dates back to the Bronze Age.
The team spent weeks excavating the ancient burial ground.
After excavating the area, they found a well-preserved Roman mosaic.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

construction

The act of digging and removing material from the ground to create a space for building foundations or infrastructure.

Synonyms

digging, dredging, shoveling.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
excavating	Used in the context of large-scale construction or archaeological work where significant amounts of earth and materials are being removed. They are excavating the site to build a new shopping mall. Archaeologists have been excavating this ancient city for years.
digging	Often used in everyday activities or smaller scale operations that involve breaking and moving earth. The kids are digging a hole in the backyard. I have been digging in the garden all morning.
dredging	Refers specifically to the process of removing sediment and debris from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, or other water bodies. They are dredging the river to improve navigation. The harbor needs dredging to allow larger ships to dock.
shoveling	Used when referring to digging or moving small amounts of earth, snow, or other materials using a shovel. After the heavy snowfall, we spent hours shoveling the driveway. He is shoveling sand into the wheelbarrow.

Examples of usage

The construction crew is excavating the site for the new shopping center.
Excavating the land revealed the presence of underground utilities.
The excavation process is crucial before laying the groundwork for the building.

Interesting Facts

Historical Origins

The word comes from the Latin 'excavare,' meaning 'to hollow out' or 'to dig out.'
Excavation as a practice dates back thousands of years, with ancient Egypt conducting excavations to find materials for construction.
In medieval times, people would excavate to find precious metals and stones, impacting trade and economics.

Archaeology

Excavating is a primary method used in archaeology to discover artifacts from past civilizations.
Proper excavation techniques help preserve delicate items, allowing scientists to learn about history.
Some of the world's most famous archaeological sites, like Pompeii, were uncovered through extensive excavation.

Environmental Science

Excavating can be crucial in environmental studies to analyze soil composition and contamination levels.
After natural disasters, excavation efforts help assess damages and clear hazardous materials.
Ecologists often study excavated sites to understand ecosystem changes over time.

Construction

In modern construction, excavation is essential for building foundations and underground facilities.
Heavy machinery like bulldozers and backhoes are often used in excavation work to move large amounts of earth quickly.
Excavating can affect local ecosystems, so environmental assessments are typically conducted before major projects.

Culture

Fictional stories often portray excavators as adventurous treasure hunters seeking lost civilizations.
Museums frequently curate exhibitions showcasing the finds from major excavation projects.
Movies featuring archaeological digs, like 'Indiana Jones,' have popularized the idea of adventurous excavating.

Translations

Translations of the word "excavating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 escavando

🇮🇳 खुदाई

🇩🇪 ausgraben

🇮🇩 menggali

🇺🇦 розкопки

🇵🇱 wykopywanie

🇯🇵 発掘する

🇫🇷 excavation

🇪🇸 excavando

🇹🇷 kazı

🇰🇷 발굴

🇸🇦 التنقيب

🇨🇿 výkopové práce

🇸🇰 výkopové práce

🇨🇳 挖掘

🇸🇮 izkopavanje

🇮🇸 uppgröftur

🇰🇿 қазу

🇬🇪 ამოღება

🇦🇿 qazıntı

🇲🇽 excavación

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,156, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
18153 heartless
18154 eschatological
18155 truncate
18156 excavating
18157 reproducibility
18158 dynamism
18159 unravel
...