dig
To move hard-packed earth out of the way, especially downward to make a hole with a shovel. Or to drill, or the like, through rocks, roads, or the like. More generally, to make any similar hole by moving material out of the way.
Verb 4 meanings
To move hard-packed earth out of the way, especially downward to make a hole with a shovel. Or to drill, or the like, through rocks, roads, or the like. More generally, to make any similar hole by moving material out of the way.
“They dug an eight-foot ditch along the side of the road.”
To get by digging; to take from the ground; often with up.
“to dig potatoes”
To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.
To investigate, to research, often followed by out or up.
“to dig up evidence”
Noun 4 meanings
An archeological or paleontological investigation, or the site where such an investigation is taking place.
Any act of digging to find or retrieve something.
A thrust; a poke.
“He guffawed and gave me a dig in the ribs after telling his latest joke.”
A defensive pass of the ball that has been attacked by the opposing team.
Etymology
From Middle English diggen (“to dig”, 13th c.), an alteration of dīken, from Old English dīcian (“to dig a ditch, mound up earth”), from Proto-West Germanic *dīkōn, which see for cognates.
Similar and opposite words
DIG at a glance
DIG has 3 letters and scores 5 points in Scrabble (D 2 + I 1 + G 2) and 6 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #4,851 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with dig
All rhymes- SHINDIG12
One letter away
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.