dig

dig¹

/dig/, v., dug or (Archaic) digged, digging, n.

v.i.

1. to break up, turn over, or remove earth, sand, etc., as with a shovel, spade, bulldozer, or claw; make an excavation.

2. to make one's way or work by or as by removing or turning over material: to dig through the files.

v.t.

3. to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often fol. by up).

4. to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.

5. to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often fol. by up or out).

6. to find or discover by effort or search.

7. to poke, thrust, or force (usually fol. by in or into): He dug his heel into the ground.

8. dig in,

a. to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.

b. to maintain one's opinion or position.

c. to start eating.

9. dig into, Informal. to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically: to dig into one's work; to dig into a meal.

10. dig out,

a. to remove earth or debris from by digging.

b. to hollow out by digging.

c. to find by searching: to dig out facts for a term paper.

11. dig up,

a. to discover in the course of digging.

b. to locate; find: to dig up information.

n.

12. thrust; poke: He gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow.

13. a cutting, sarcastic remark.

14. an archaeological site undergoing excavation.

15. digs, Informal. living quarters; lodgings.

[1275-1325; ME diggen, perh. repr. an OE deriv. of dic DITCH; MF diguer to dig ( < MD) is attested later and appar. not the immediate source]

dig²

/dig/, v.t., dug, digging. Slang.

1. to understand: Can you dig what I'm saying?

2. to take notice of: Dig those shoes he's wearing.

3. to like, love, or enjoy: She digs that kind of music. We really dig each other.

[1935-40; perh. < Ir (an) dtuig(eann tú mé?) do you understand me? and parallel expressions with tuigim I understand (see TWIG²)]

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