excavation

From Latin excavātiō (“a hollowing out”), from excavō (“I hollow out”), from ex + cavō (“I hollow out”) < cavus (“hollow”) < Proto-Indo-European *keu- (“vault, hole”)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

excavation (countable and uncountable, plural excavations)

1. (uncountable) The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
2. (countable) A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
3. (countable) An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel.
4. (countable) The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.
5. (uncountable) Archaeological research that unearths buildings, tombs and objects of historical value.
6. (countable) A site where an archaeological exploration is being carried out.

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excavation f (plural excavations)

1. excavation

• “excavation” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).