Excavation

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Origin

From Latin excavatio ("a hollowing out"), from excavare ("to hollow out"), from ex- (out) + cavare (to hollow)< cavus (hollow)< Proto-Indo-European *keu- ("vault, hole")

Full definition of excavation

Noun

1. (uncountable) The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
2. (countable) A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
3. (countable) An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel.
4. (countable) The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.
5. (uncountable) Archaeological research that unearths buildings, tombs and objects of historical value.
6. (countable) A site where an archaeological exploration is being carried out.