excavate

Known since 1599, from Latin excavātus (“hollowed out”), perfect passive participle of excavō (“hollow out”), from ex (“out”) + cavō (“make a hole”), from cavus (“cave, hole”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛk.skə.veɪt/

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excavate (third-person singular simple present excavates, present participle excavating, simple past and past participle excavated)

1. (transitive) To make a hole in (something); to hollow.
2. (transitive) To remove part of (something) by scooping or digging it out.
3. (transitive) To uncover (something) by digging.

• re-excavate

• excavation
• excavator

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

 

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excavate

Wikipedia

excavate (plural excavates)

1. (zoology) Any member of a major grouping of unicellular eukaryotes, of the clade Excavata.

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “excavate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

excavāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of excavō

excavate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of excavar combined with te