From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdigdig1 /dɪɡ/ ●●● S2 verb (past tense and past participle dug /dʌɡ/, present participle digging) 1 [intransitive, transitive]DIG to move earth, snow etc, or to make a hole in the ground, using a spade or your handsdig a hole/trench/grave etc They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs.dig down Dig down about 6 inches.dig for birds digging for worms2 [transitive] to remove something, especially vegetables, from the ground using a spade freshly dug carrots3 [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put your hand into something, especially in order to search for something She dug around in her bag for a pen. He dug his hands deep into his pockets.4 → dig your heels in5 → dig deep6 → dig a hole for yourself7 → dig somebody out of trouble/a mess/a hole etc8 → dig your own grave9 [transitive]LIKE somebody OR something old-fashioned to like something I dig that hat!THESAURUSdig to make a hole in the ground using your hands, a tool, or a machineSome workmen were digging a trench at the side of the road.In Africa, the people know where to dig for water.make a hole to dig a hole in the ground, using your hands or a toolMake a hole just big enough for the plant’s roots.burrow /ˈbʌrəʊ $ ˈbɜːroʊ/ if an animal burrows, it makes a hole or a passage in the ground by digging the earth with its feet, nose etcThe rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence.plough British English, plow American English /plaʊ/ to turn over the soil using a machine or a tool pulled by animals, to prepare the soil for planting seedsThe farmers here still plough their fields using buffaloes.excavate /ˈekskəveɪt/ formal to dig a large hole in the ground, especially as a preparation for building somethingThe men began excavating the hole for the pool.bore to make a deep round hole in the ground using a special machine, especially in order to look for oil or waterCompanies need a special licence to bore for oil. → dig in → dig into something → dig something ↔ out → dig something ↔ up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
dig• The workmen began digging a hole in the middle of the road.• Let us now dig a little deeper into this theory and try to appreciate Abelard's thought from within.• Trespass can therefore be committed by a person who digs a tunnel under land or who abuses the airspace.• If there is a big quake, many homeowners would have to dig deep into their own funds, he said.• He was paid twelve dollars an hour to dig ditches and mix cement.• There were two fishermen on the beach digging for worms.• Benjamin then dug his hand into the empty manger and plucked out the remains of the horse's feed.• I found two dogs digging in the garden, looking for bones.• Jessica dug in the sand with a small shovel.• They started to dig in to help me put this thing together.• The whole family was out in the fields digging potatoes.• We landed too close to some trenches the gooks had dug right next to the Pleime compound.• I really dig that dress.• "She says she doesn't want to get pregnant." "Yeah, I can dig that."• Some of the prisoners escaped through a tunnel they had dug under the wall.dig for• Boyden is digging for details about Thompson's activities.• They're digging for dinosaur bones.• She reached into her daypack to dig for her keys.digdig2 noun [countable] 1 JOKECRITICIZEa joke or remark that you make to annoy or criticize someonedig at He couldn’t resist a dig at the referee. Here was a chance to have a dig at trade unionists.► see thesaurus at comment2 → give somebody a dig3 SXan organized process of digging in order to find ancient objects for study an archaeological dig4 → digsExamples from the Corpus
dig• Her come-back to the application dig died in her throat.• an archeological dig• Despite my apprehension, Daphne turned out to be a wonderful companion to share digs with.• Successful dig - both rabbit and ferret are in sight.• The dig might require such a specialist, trained to handle hazardous materials.• They would be marshalled back to their digs, proudly wearing their uniforms.have a dig• Above all, what performers sensitive to the original performing context of this music have dug deep into this seam of riches?• Several coalition partners who hold important ministerial portfolios have dug in their heels.• It preserves a beauty spot for us all to enjoy, and they wouldn't have dug much coal out anyway.• If the weather had held and still been hot and dry would they have dug deeper?• As Lovelock noted, we have dug up no ancient rocks without also digging up ancient life preserved in them.archaeological dig• Sad excuse for a car park, and soil left unwanted after an archaeological dig.• Wanuskewin is a museum, a school, a philanthropy and an archaeological dig.• Read in studio Welcome back: Large numbers of skeletons buried in a mass grave have been unearthed by an archaeological dig.• We helped out on an archaeological dig in Ohio.• The Doctor and his companion were led across a field to an archaeological dig.• Driving into the mountains here is like visiting an archaeological dig.• And we were like bankrolling this entire archaeological dig, you know, the two of us, basically.• The rate includes room, all meals, all daytime activities except a nearby archaeological dig, Belikin beer and soft drinks.Origin dig1 (1100-1200) Perhaps from Old English dic “ditch” 