excavation

== English == === Etymology === From Latin excavātiō (“a hollowing out”), from excavō (“I hollow out”), from ex + cavō (“I hollow out”), from cavus (“hollow”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh₁- (“vault, hole”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃn/ Hyphenation: ex‧ca‧va‧tion Rhymes: -eɪʃən === Noun === excavation (countable and uncountable, plural excavations) (uncountable) The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass. Near-synonyms: hollowing out, hollowing Especially, the trade of digging engineered holes for building foundations, roadbed preparations, and similar purposes. (countable) A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping. (countable) An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel. (countable) The material dug out in making a channel or cavity. 1878, N.Y. Supreme Court (page 4) […] to cart away the excavations from the work, and to recart the same back again so far as required to fill the trench over the sewer […] (uncountable) Archaeological research that unearths buildings, tombs and objects of historical value. (countable) A site where an archaeological exploration is being carried out. (countable) Something uncovered by archaeological excavation. (figurative) The act of discovering and exposing or developing (a quality). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɛk.ska.va.sjɔ̃/ === Noun === excavation f (plural excavations) excavation === Further reading === “excavation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012