Dig

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Dig, v. & n.
--v. (digging; past and past part. dug)
1 intr. break up and remove or turn over soil, ground, etc., with a tool, one's hands, (of an animal) claws, etc.
2 tr. a break up and displace (the ground etc.) in this way. b (foll. by up) break up the soil of (fallow land).
3 tr. make (a hole, grave, tunnel, etc.) by digging.
4 tr. (often foll. by up, out) a obtain or remove by digging. b find or discover after searching.
5 tr. (also absol.) excavate (an archaeological site).
6 tr. sl. like, appreciate, or understand.
7 tr. & intr. (foll. by in, into) thrust or poke into or down into.
8 intr. make one's way by digging (dug through the mountainside).
--n.
1 a piece of digging.
2 a thrust or poke (a dig in the ribs).
3 colloq. (often foll. by at) a pointed or critical remark.
4 an archaeological excavation.
5 (in pl.) Brit. colloq. lodgings.

Idiom

dig one's feet (or heels or toes) in be obstinate. dig in colloq. begin eating. dig oneself in 1 prepare a defensive trench or pit.
2 establish one's position.

Etymology

ME digge, of uncert. orig.: cf. OE dic ditch

THESAURUS

Dig

Parthian shot, abide, absorb, abysm, abyss, accept, appreciate, apprehend, assault, assimilate, back answer, backset, bang, bash, bat, be affected, be in tune, be inspired, be involved, be moved, be with one, bear, bear upon, bearing, beat the bushes, beating, belt, bide, biff, blow, bone, bonk, boost, bore, bring in, buck, bull, bulldoze, bump, bump against, bunt, burrow, butt, butt against, care about, catch, catch on, catch the flame, catch the infection, caustic remark, change color, chasm, chop, clip, clout, clump, color with emotion, comeback, comprehend, con, conceive, contemplate, countersink, crack, cram, crop, crop herbs, crowd, cultivate, culture, cut, cutting remark, dash, deepen, delve, depress, dig out, dig up, digest, diggings, dike, dint, dive, dredge, dress, drill, drive, drub, drubbing, drudge, drumming, dump, dwell, echo, elbow, elucubrate, empathize with, enter, examine, excavate, excavation, explore, fag, fallow, fathom, fertilize, fleer, flout, follow, foolery, forage, force, frisk, furrow, fusillade, gather, gather in, get, get hold of, get the drift, get the idea, get the picture, gibe, gibing retort, glean, go, go over, go through, goad, gouge, gouge out, grabble, grasp, grind, groove, grub, gulf, hammer, hammer away, hang out, harrow, harvest, have, have it taped, hay, head, hit, hoe, hunt, hurtle, hustle, identify with, jab, jam, jape, jeer, jest, jog, joggle, jolt, jostle, ken, knock, know, learn, leg-pull, lick, like, list, live, look around, look round, look through, lower, lucubrate, master, mind, mine, mock, moil, mow, mulch, nose around, nudge, nut, parting shot, peg, peg away, pelt, penetrate, peruse, pick, pierce, pile drive, pit, plod, plow, pluck, plug, plug along, plug away, plunge, plunge into, plunk, poke, poke around, pore over, pound, pound away, practice, press, pressure, probe, prod, prune, pry, punch, push, put-down, put-on, quarry, quip, rake, ram, ram down, rap, rattle, react, read, realize, reap, reap and carry, regard studiously, relate to emotionally, relish, research, respond, restudy, review, root, root out, rude reproach, run, run against, sap, savvy, scoff, scoop, scoop out, scrabble, scrape, scratch, scurrility, search, search through, see, seize, seize the meaning, sense, shaft, shake, share, short answer, shoulder, shove, shovel, sink, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smash, smell around, sock, spade, stab, stick, stress, stroke, study, swat, swing, swipe, swot, sympathize with, take, take in, tamp, tattoo, taunt, thin, thin out, thrust, thump, thwack, till, till the soil, toil, travail, trench, trough, tunnel, twit, understand, verbal thrust, vet, wade through, weed, weed out, well, whack, whop, work, work away, workings, yerk

ROGET THESAURUS

Dig

Depth

VB be deep, render deep, deepen, plunge, sound, fathom, plumb, cast the lead, heave the lead, take soundings, make soundings, dig.

Concavity

VB be concave, retire, cave in, render concave, depress, hollow, scoop, scoop out, gouge, gouge out, dig, delve, excavate, dent, dint, mine, sap, undermine, burrow, tunnel, stave in.

Agriculture

VB cultivate, till the soil, farm, garden, sow, plant, reap, mow, cut, manure, dress the ground, dig, delve, dibble, hoe, plough, plow, harrow, rake, weed, lop and top, backset.