verb, dug or (Archaic
) digged, dig⋅ging, noun | 1. | to break up, turn over, or remove earth, sand, etc., as with a shovel, spade, bulldozer, or claw; make an excavation. |
| 2. | to make one's way or work by or as by removing or turning over material: to dig through the files. |
| 3. | to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often fol. by up). |
| 4. | to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material. |
| 5. | to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often fol. by up or out). |
| 6. | to find or discover by effort or search. |
| 7. | to poke, thrust, or force (usually fol. by in or into): He dug his heel into the ground. |
| 8. | thrust; poke: He gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow. |
| 9. | a cutting, sarcastic remark. |
| 10. | an archaeological site undergoing excavation. |
| 11. | digs, Informal. living quarters; lodgings. |
| 12. | dig in,
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| 13. | dig into, Informal. to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically: to dig into one's work; to dig into a meal. |
| 14. | dig out,
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| 15. | dig up,
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dig
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dig out
Extract, remove, as in He was determined to dig out every bit of metal he could find. [Late 1300s]
Find by searching for, as in He dug out his first contract from the file. [Mid-1800s]