noun
excavation
ek-skuh-VAY-shun/ˌekskəˈveɪʃn/
The removal of earth by digging.
Excavation for the new foundation begins early on Monday morning.
Etymology
The pieces describe hollowing something out by removing material. The noun names both that digging process and, by extension, the hollow or site it produces.
In context
you dig a trench or an excavation you've made a cut in the skin of the surface of the earth
More examples
- The excavation reveals pottery buried beneath the old village.
- Heavy rain delays excavation along the planned sewer line.
- Workers place a fence around the excavation for safety.
Forms
excavation · excavations
excavate verb — To remove earth from an area.
excavator noun — A person or machine used for digging.
Similar words
- digging
- The broader term, also covering small or casual tasks.
- earthmoving
- Emphasizes large-scale movement of soil, often with heavy machinery.