excavate
Definitions
To dig out earth or hollow something out
挖掘，开凿，挖空
To uncover something buried by digging, especially at an archaeological site
（通过挖掘）发掘，发现（尤指遗址）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedex- (out) + cav (hollow) + -ate (verb) = to make a hollow by digging the material out. The prefix matters: you actively remove earth to leave an empty space. That single action covers both building (excavate a foundation) and archaeology (excavate a buried city, removing soil to expose what's hidden).
Root cav still carries 4 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.excavate a site发掘一处遗址
- 2.excavate ruins发掘遗迹
- 3.excavate a foundation开挖地基
- 4.excavate a tunnel开凿隧道
Example Sentences
- 1.
Workers used heavy machinery to excavate the site for the new garage.
- 2.
The team spent three summers excavating the ancient burial ground.
- 3.
Rabbits excavate long tunnels beneath the field.
Easily Confused
excavate vs unearth — both mean uncovering buried things, but excavate emphasizes the digging process (machinery, systematic removal of earth), while unearth emphasizes the discovery/result and works figuratively too (unearth a secret, unearth evidence). You excavate a site; you unearth what's in it.