excavationn.
/ɛkskəˈveɪʃən/ The action of excavating.
1. The action or process of digging out a hollow or hollows in (the earth, etc.); an instance of the same; the result or extent of the process.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > condition or fact of receding > hollowness > [noun] > making hollow
hollowing1607
excavation1611
excavating1691
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Excavation, an excauation; a hollowing, a making hollow.
1623–6 in H. Cockeram Eng. Dict.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) iv. ii. 299 This excavation of the Terrestrial Body, or elevation of other parts thereof whereby the water subsided.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) The Excavation of the Foundations of a Building..is settled by Palladio at a sixth Part of the Height of the whole Building.
1799 R. Kirwan Geol. Ess. 89 The utter separation of both continents was most probably the effect of excavations by volcanoes.
1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man 35 All the remains of organic bodies found during the excavations belonged to living species.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 134 The amount of excavation which can be wrought..by means of running water.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) I. 38/2 Digging out the hollows for cellars, &c...is called the excavation.
2. concrete. An excavated space; a cavity or hollow.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > earth-moving, etc. > [noun] > digging or excavating > an excavation
fossure1727
excavation1781
grubbery1887
the world > space > shape > unevenness > condition or fact of receding > hollowness > [noun] > a cavity or hollow
hollowc897
wombOE
holkc1000
dalkc1325
hollownessc1374
spaciosity?a1425
pitc1480
concavitya1513
doupa1522
capacity?1541
cavity?1541
concave?1541
vacuation?1541
vacuity?1541
sound1603
cave1605
ferme1612
ventriclea1631
core1663
want1664
uterus1692
excavation1781
hog trough1807
1781 S. Johnson Pope in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets VII. 110 Pope's excavation was requisite as an entrance to his garden.
1783 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 73 145 All spots..which consist of a dark nucleus, and surrounding umbra, are excavations in the luminous matter of the sun.
1848 S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Palestine (1879) xxiv. 489 The wine-press was an oblong excavation in the rock.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. App. 550 All great peninsulas..have an excavation or bend inward on their westward side.
3. The process of laying bare by excavating; an unearthing; in quot. 1864 figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > [noun] > finding and bringing to light
excavation1864
unearthing1876
1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad II. i. 73 The excavation of state papers has thrown [light] on the vast designs of, etc.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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