excavation

[ eks-kuh-vey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a hole or cavity made by excavating.
2. the act of excavating.
3. an area in which excavating has been done or is in progress, as an archaeological site.

Other Words From

• exca·vation·al adjective
• nonex·ca·vation noun
• reex·ca·vation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of excavation¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin excavātiōn- (stem of excavātiō ) “a hollowing.” See excavate, -ion

Synonym Study

See hole.

Example Sentences

Jenkins had written entirely from secondary literature—no interviews or excavation of legal documents.

From The Daily Beast

I was writing an article for Outside, whose expense money helped finance the excavation.

From The Daily Beast

Sun will shine through many openings of the “Luminous Caves,” which he refers to as his magnum opus and his final excavation.

From The Daily Beast

He, not Hylton, the author of Vanished, is the one who has done most of the research on the pilots and their excavation process.

From The Daily Beast

Hundreds of years of excavation has left seven gorgeous chambers carved into the salt rock throughout the floors.

From The Daily Beast

At his persuasion the pope purchased the vineyard, and the archological commission began the work of excavation.

From Project Gutenberg

He stopped above an excavation where Charnock and another were cutting a hole in the frozen gravel.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon after, I descended from the tree, and went to the excavation.

From Project Gutenberg

They were now standing in a glade, if we may use this word to designate a vast and dark excavation.

From Project Gutenberg

A fortnight of steady work, by both the men, not only completed the excavation, but built the wall.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dig
• mining
• removal