dig

¹

[ dig ]

verb (used without object)

, dug [duhg] or (Archaic) digged [digd], dig·ging.

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.

verb (used with object)

, dug [duhg] or (Archaic) digged [digd], dig·ging.

1. to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often followed by up ).
2. to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.
3. to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often followed by up or out ).
4. to find or discover by effort or search.
5. to poke, thrust, or force (usually followed by in or into ):

   He dug his heel into the ground.

noun

1. thrust; poke:

   He gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow.

2. a cutting, sarcastic remark.
3. an archaeological site undergoing excavation.
4. digs, Informal. living quarters; lodgings.

verb phrase

1. 1. to discover in the course of digging.
   2. to locate; find:

      to dig up information.

2. Informal. to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically: to dig into a meal.

   to dig into one's work;

   to dig into a meal.

3. 1. to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.
   2. to maintain one's opinion or position.
   3. to start eating.
4. 1. to remove earth or debris from by digging.
   2. to hollow out by digging.
   3. to find by searching:

      to dig out facts for a term paper.

dig

²

[ dig ]

verb (used with object)

, Slang.

, dug, dig·ging.

1. to understand:

   Can you dig what I'm saying?

2. to take notice of:

   Dig those shoes he's wearing.

3. to like, love, or enjoy:

   She digs that kind of music. We really dig each other.

dig.

³

abbreviation for

1. digest.

dig

¹

/ dɪɡ /

verb

1. whentr, often foll by up to cut into, break up, and turn over or remove (earth, soil, etc), esp with a spade
2. to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, passage, etc) by digging, usually with an implement or (of animals) with feet, claws, etc

   to dig a tunnel

3. often foll by through to make or force (one's way), esp by removing obstructions

   he dug his way through the crowd

4. tr; often foll by out or up to obtain by digging

   to dig potatoes

   to dig up treasure

5. tr; often foll by out or up to find or discover by effort or searching

   to dig out unexpected facts

6. tr; foll by in or into to thrust or jab (a sharp instrument, weapon, etc); poke

   he dug his spurs into the horse's side

7. tr; foll by in or into to mix (compost, etc) with soil by digging
8. informal.
   tr to like, understand, or appreciate
9. slang.
   intr to work hard, esp for an examination
10. informal.
    intr to have lodgings

    I dig in South London

noun

1. the act of digging
2. a thrust or poke, esp in the ribs
3. a cutting or sarcastic remark
4. informal.
   an archaeological excavation

Dig

²

/ dɪɡ /

noun

1. informal.
   short for Digger

Word History and Origins

Origin of dig¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English diggen, deggen; perhaps from Middle French diguer “to dig,” from the same Germanic source as ditch ( def )

Origin of dig²

First recorded in 1935–40; origin uncertain; perhaps the same as dig ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of dig¹

C13 diggen, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

To survive, the miners and undocumented migrants go beneath the surface to escape poverty and dig up gold to sell it on the black market.

From BBC

He gets a new lease on life when he’s tapped by a private investigator to go undercover at a San Francisco retirement home to dig into the theft of a missing heirloom.

From Los Angeles Times

Political operations are often overleveraged and fundraise around the clock to dig themselves out.

From Slate

With the second international break of the season upon us, now feels like a good time to dig into the numbers.

From BBC

The only way to rebuild, she believed, was to dig into the available data about how audiences perceived her.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bore
• bulldoze
• burrow
• clean
• discover
• dredge
• drill
• enter
• excavate
• exhume
• go into
• gouge
• harvest
• penetrate
• scoop
• search
• shovel
• sift
• uncover
• unearth