noun · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:EH2 K S K AH0 V EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Examples
Near-synonyms: hollowing out, hollowing
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hollowing out, hollowing
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
Especially, the trade of digging engineered holes for building foundations, roadbed preparations, and similar purposes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hollowing out, hollowing
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Archaeological research that unearths buildings, tombs and objects of historical value.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A site where an archaeological exploration is being carried out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
Something uncovered by archaeological excavation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
The act of discovering and exposing or developing (a quality).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
From Latin excavātiō (“a hollowing out”), from excavō (“to hollow out”), from ex + cavō (“to hollow out”), from cavus (“hollow”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh1- (“vault, hole”). Equivalent to excavate + -ion.
Across languages
Translations
69 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
изкопа́ване
(izkopávane)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Catalan:
excavació
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Dutch:
afgraving
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Finnish:
kaivaminen
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Finnish:
kaivuu
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
German:
Grabung
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
German:
Ausgrabung
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Greek:
εκσκαφή
(ekskafí)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Ancient Greek:
ἀνασκαφή
(anaskaphḗ)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Gujarati:
ખોદકામ
(khodkām)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Ido:
exkavo
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Ido:
exkavado
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Italian:
scavo
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Latin:
excavatio
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Malay:
penggalian
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Malay:
pengorekan
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Malay:
ekskavasi
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Polish:
wykopalisko
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Portuguese:
escavação
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Russian:
копа́ние
(kopánije)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Russian:
рытьё
(rytʹjó)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Russian:
экскава́ция
(ekskavácija)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Scottish Gaelic:
cladhach
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Spanish:
excavación
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Swedish:
utgrävning
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Telugu:
తవ్వకము
(tavvakamu)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Turkish:
kazı
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Ottoman Turkish:
قازمه
(kazma)
— act of excavating, or of making hollow
Bulgarian:
и́зкоп
(ízkop)
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Dutch:
bouwput
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Finnish:
kuoppa
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Ido:
exkavuro
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Polish:
wykop
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Portuguese:
escavação
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Russian:
я́ма
(jáma)
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Russian:
котлова́н
(kotlován)
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Russian:
углубле́ние
(uglublénije)
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Spanish:
cavia
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Spanish:
excavación
— cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
Bulgarian:
и́зкоп
(ízkop)
— uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel
Finnish:
kuoppa
— uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel
German:
Ausschachtung
— uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel
Ido:
kavajo
— uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel
Russian:
око́п
(okóp)
— uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel
Finnish:
kaivuujäte
— material dug out in making a channel or cavity
German:
Aushub
— material dug out in making a channel or cavity
