dig

v., dug (dŭg), dig·ging, digs.

v.tr.

1. To break up, turn over, or remove (earth or sand, for example), as with a shovel, spade, or snout, or with claws, paws or hands.
2. 1. To make or form by removing earth or other material: dig a trench; dug my way out of the snow.
   2. To prepare (soil) by loosening or cultivating.
3. 1. To obtain or unearth by digging: dig coal out of a seam; dug potatoes from a field.
   2. To obtain or find by an action similar to digging: dug a dollar out of his pocket; dug the puck out of the corner.
4. To learn or discover by careful research or investigation: dug up the evidence; dug out the real facts.
5. To force down and into something; thrust: dug his foot in the ground.
6. To poke or prod: dug me in the ribs.
7. Sports. To strike or redirect (a ball) just before it hits the ground, as in tennis or volleyball.
8. Slang.
   1. To understand fully: Do you dig what I mean?
   2. To like, enjoy, or appreciate: "They really dig our music and, daddy, I dig swinging for them" (Louis Armstrong).
   3. To take notice of: Dig that wild outfit.

v.intr.

1. To loosen, turn over, or remove earth or other material.
2. To make one's way by or as if by pushing aside or removing material: dug through the files.
3. Slang. To have understanding: Do you dig?

n.

1. A poke or thrust: a sharp dig in the ribs.
2. A sarcastic, taunting remark; a gibe.
3. An archaeological excavation.
4. Sports. An act or an instance of digging a ball.
5. digs Lodgings.

phrasal verb:

dig in

1. To dig trenches for protection.
2. To hold on stubbornly, as to a position; entrench oneself.
3. 1. To begin to work intensively.
   2. To begin to eat heartily.

idioms:

dig in (one's) heels

1. To resist opposition stubbornly; refuse to yield or compromise.

dig it out

1. SlangTo run as fast as one can, especially as a base runner in baseball. To run as fast as one can, especially as a base runner in baseball.

[Middle English diggen, perhaps akin to Old French digue, dike, trench. V., tr., sense 8 and intr., sense 3, perhaps influenced by Wolof degg, to hear, find out, understand, or Irish Gaelic tuigim, I understand.]

Our Living Language   In its slang sense of "to enjoy," dig is one of the many words and expressions that come from African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Like cool, it is first recorded in 1930s jazz circles. While several AAVE expressions that have entered standard English from jazz still have musical associations, many others do not, and quite a few are so ordinary today that their origin in AAVE is not at all obvious. Some are no longer regarded as slang, such as badmouth, cakewalk, nitty-gritty, and main man. Others, like fox, "sexy woman," gig, and chump change are still slang or informal.

also dig out

verb

1. To break, turn over, or remove (earth or sand, for example) with or as if with a tool: delve, excavate, grub, scoop, shovel, spade. See enter/exit.
2. To make by digging: excavate, scoop, shovel. See make/unmake.
3. To go into or through for the purpose of making discoveries or acquiring information: delve, explore, inquire, investigate, look into, probe, reconnoiter, scout¹. See investigate.
4. To find by investigation. turn up, uncover, unearth. See show/hide.
5. To cause to penetrate with force: drive, plunge, ram, run, sink, stab, stick, thrust. See put in/take out.
6. To thrust against or into: jab, jog, nudge, poke, prod. See touch/not touch.
7. To perceive and recognize the meaning of: accept, apprehend, catch (on), compass, comprehend, conceive, fathom, follow, get, grasp, make out, read, see, sense, take, take in, understand. Informal savvy. Chiefly British twig. Scots ken. Idioms: gethavea handle on, get the picture. See understand/misunderstand.
8. To receive pleasure from: enjoy, like¹, relish, savor. Informal go for. See like/dislike.

noun

1. An act of thrusting into or against, as to attract attention: jab, jog, nudge, poke. See touch/not touch.
2. A flippant or sarcastic remark: crack, quip. Slang wisecrack. See respect/contempt/standing, words.
3. A building or shelter where one lives. abode, domicile, dwelling, habitation, home, house, lodging (often used in plural), place, residence. See protection/exposure.

n

Definition: insult
Antonyms: compliment, flattery, praise

v

Definition: delve into; hollow out
Antonyms: fill

v

Definition: enjoy, like
Antonyms: dislike

v

Definition: understand
Antonyms: misunderstand, not get

---

IN BRIEF: To break up, turn, or remove, as with a spade or other sharp instrument (as dirt); to excavate.

To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves. — Gandhi 

Digging in a dream may indicate a struggle to unearth one's reputation or integrity, a search for something lost or buried, or an effort to bury some unpleasant aspect of the past. Any downward movement can also symbolize digging into the unconscious in an effort to understand oneself. (See also Shovel).

---

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - grave op, grave frem, finde, stikke, puffe
v. intr. - grave, udgrave, forstå, kunne lide, bo
n. - gravning, puf, stød, udgravning, logi, bolig

idioms:

• dig a pit for    grave en faldgrube til
• dig around    undersøge det
• dig deep    grave dybt ned
• dig in    gå løs på maden
• dig into    hugge ind i
• dig into one's pocket    hugge fra éns lomme
• dig into one's purse    hugge fra éns pung
• dig one's heels in    stritte imod
• dig one's own grave    grave sin egen grav
• dig out    grave frem
• dig over    overveje
• dig up    måtte bløde

Nederlands (Dutch)
(uit)graven, (het) omspitten, uitzoeken, vatten/begrijpen, te gek vinden, por(ren), (archeologische) opgraving, steek (onder water)

Français (French)
v. tr. - creuser, bêcher, percer, ouvrir, arracher, (fig) creuser, enfoncer (qch dans qch), pousser qn du coude, piger, viser (fam)
v. intr. - fouiller, fouiner, creuser (dans), (Tech) fouiller, (Archéol) faire des fouilles, (fig) fouiller
n. - coup de pioche, coup de poing/de coude, chambre meublée, (fig) coup de patte/de griffe, (Archéol) fouilles

idioms:

• dig a pit for    creuser une fosse pour
• dig around    creuser autour
• dig deep    creuser profond
• dig in    taper dans le tas, (Mil) se retrancher, (fig) tenir bon, se braquer, se buter (péj), attaquer (un repas), enfoncer, (Hort) enterrer (le compost)
• dig in!    allez-y, mangez, servez vous
• dig into    fouiller dans, dire deux mots à (fam), entamer sérieusement (un gâteau) (fam)
• dig into one's pocket    fouiller dans ses poches
• dig into one's purse    fouiller dans son porte-monnaie
• dig one's heels in    se braquer
• dig one's own grave    creuser sa propre tombe
• dig out    déterrer, arracher, enlever (un clou), dégager (un corps), dénicher dans
• dig over    reconsidérer, penser à, retourner (la terre), bêcher, retourner (un jardin)
• dig up    arracher, déterrer, bêcher, retourner (la terre), (fig) déterrer, dénicher

Deutsch (German)
v. - graben, (ugs.) stoßen, (ugs.) verstehen
n. - Grabung

idioms:

• dig a pit for    jmdm. eine Falle stellen
• dig around    durchwühlen, nachforschen
• dig deep    gründlich nachforschen
• dig in    eingraben, zulangen, zugreifen
• dig in!    eingraben, zulangen, zugreifen
• dig into    graben in
• dig into one's pocket    in der Tasche/im Geldbeutel wühlen
• dig into one's purse    in der Tasche/im Geldbeutel wühlen
• dig one's heels in    sich auf die Hinterbeine stellen
• dig one's own grave    sich selbst sein Grab graben
• dig out    ausgraben
• dig over    umgraben
• dig up    ausgraben, umgraben, aufstöbern, (ugs.) Geld herausrücken, ausgabeln

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - σκάβω, ανασκάπτω, χώνω ή σπρώχνω μέσα, βυθίζω, ψάχνω, σκαλίζω, (καθομ.) μπαίνω (στο νόημα), χαμπαρίζω, (καθομ.) πειράζω, κουρντίζω, κατοικώ, γουστάρω, τη βρίσκω (με)
n. - (καθομ.) αρχαιολογική ανασκαφή, πείραγμα, μπηχτή, (πληθ.) (καθομ.) τσαρδί, κατοικία

idioms:

• dig a pit for    σκάβω το λάκκο
• dig around    ανασκαλεύω, ερευνώ
• dig deep    σκάβω/ερευνώ σε βάθος
• dig in    καταχώνω (στο χώμα), (στρατ.) σκάβω (ατομικά) ορύγματα, χαρακώνομαι, (καθομ.) στρογγυλοκάθομαι, καλοστρώνομαι
• dig into    χώνω, πέφτω με τα μούτρα σε
• dig into one's pocket    βάζω το χέρι βαθιά στην τσέπη, ξηλώνομαι
• dig into one's purse    βάζω το χέρι βαθιά στην τσέπη, ξηλώνομαι
• dig one's heels in    αντιστέκομαι πεισματικά, πεισμώνω, μουλαρώνω
• dig one's own grave    σκάβω μόνος μου το λάκκο μου
• dig out    ξεθάβω, φέρνω στην επιφάνεια, αποκαλύπτω
• dig over    σκάβω σ' όλη την επιφάνεια, επανεξετάζω
• dig up    ανασκάπτω, ξεθάβω, φέρνω στο φως, ξεριζώνω

Italiano (Italian)
abitazione, scavi, dare una gomitata, scavare

idioms:

• dig around    rovistare
• dig deep    scavare a fondo
• dig in    trincerarsi
• dig into    ricercare
• dig into one's pocket/purse    spendere
• dig out    estrarre
• dig over    ricuperare
• dig up    scovare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - cavar
n. - escavação (f), alfinetada (f) (coloq.)

idioms:

• dig around    cavar, procurar
• dig deep    pesquisar a fundo
• dig in    por mãos à obra
• dig into    pesquisar, trabalhar muito em...
• dig into one's pocket/purse    por a mão no bolso
• dig out    enfiar, entender (gír.), levantar acampamento (gír.)
• dig over    procurar em
• dig up    desenterrar

Русский (Russian)
меблированные комнаты, ткнуть, копать, выкапывать, извлекать, вкалывать

idioms:

• dig around    копаться
• dig deep    глубоко копать
• dig in    окапываться, готовиться, приниматься за еду/работу
• dig into    копаться
• dig into one's pocket/purse    как-нибудь найти деньги
• dig out    выкапывать
• dig over    вскапывать
• dig up    найти, выкапывать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - extraer
v. intr. - cavar, excavar, escarbar, extraer, descubrir
n. - pensión, alojamiento, sitio arqueológico, codazo, comentario sarcástico

idioms:

• dig a pit for    tender una trampa a
• dig around    buscar, revolver, averiguar, inquirir
• dig deep    investigar a fondo
• dig in    clavar, atrincherarse, empezar a comer, agregarle a la tierra (fertilizante, etc.), empujar
• dig in!    clavar, atrincherarse, empezar a comer, agregarle a la tierra (fertilizante, etc.), a comer!
• dig into    hurgar en, hundir, clavar, investigar, echar mano de, empezar a comer
• dig into one's pocket    hurgar en el bolsillo
• dig into one's purse    hurgar en la billetera
• dig one's heels in    mantenerse en sus trece
• dig one's own grave    cavarse la propia tumba
• dig out    excavar, sacar, desenterrar, desempolvar
• dig over    volver a cavar, remover (tierra), dar vuelta (tierra), reconsiderar
• dig up    desenterrar, descubrir, arrancar, desarraigar, roturar, levantar, sacar a la luz (datos, información, etc.)

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - gräva, böka i
n. - stöt, puff, utgrävningsplats

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
掘, 掘取, 挖, 发掘, 探究, 挖掘, 居住, 苦干, 苦学, 懂, 刺, 碰, 戳, 考古发掘, 挖苦, 讥讽, 住所

idioms:

• dig a pit for    为...挖掘陷阱
• dig around    查查看
• dig deep    仔细查
• dig in    掘土把...埋起来, 开始认真工作
• dig into    致力于, 大口吃
• dig into one's pocket    在口袋里找东西
• dig into one's purse    找更多...
• dig one's heels in    打定主意, 固执己见
• dig one's own grave    自掘坟墓, 自己害自己
• dig out    掘出, 发现
• dig over    重新考虑, 搜集
• dig up    掘起, 发现, 挖出

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 掘, 掘取, 挖, 發掘, 探究
v. intr. - 挖掘, 發掘, 居住, 苦幹, 苦學, 懂
n. - 刺, 碰, 戳, 考古發掘, 挖苦, 譏諷, 住所

idioms:

• dig a pit for    為...挖掘陷阱
• dig around    查查看
• dig deep    仔細查
• dig in    掘土把...埋起來, 開始認真工作
• dig into    致力於, 大口吃
• dig into one's pocket    在口袋裡找東西
• dig into one's purse    找更多...
• dig one's heels in    打定主意, 固執己見
• dig one's own grave    自掘墳墓, 自己害自己
• dig out    掘出, 發現
• dig over    重新考慮, 搜集
• dig up    掘起, 發現, 挖出

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 파다, 발견하다, ~을 쿡쿡 찌르다
v. intr. - 구멍을 파헤치다, 꼼꼼하게 조사하다, 거주하다, 발굴지
n. - 빗대기, 깊이 공부하는 사람, 하숙

idioms:

• dig around    샅샅이 찾다
• dig in    참호를 파다, 먹기 시작하다, 부지런히 공부하다
• dig into    ~을 맛있게 먹기 시작하다, 철저히 조사하다, 재산을 탕진하다
• dig out    날쌔게 사라지다, 갇힌 상태에서 탈출하다
• dig over    ~을 달리 생각하다
• dig up    우연히 찾아내다, 발굴하다, 인내하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 掘る, 掘り出す, 突く, 突っ込む
n. - 突くこと, 当てこすり, 下宿, 発掘現場, 発掘, 掘ること

idioms:

• dig a pit for    陥れようとする
• dig around    掘りまわる
• dig deep    深く掘る
• dig deep into one's pocket    金を使い込む
• dig in    掘って埋め込む, 定着させる
• dig into    食べ始める, 詳しく調べる, じっくり勉強する
• dig into one's pocket/purse    金を使う
• dig one's heels in    自分の立場を固守する
• dig one's own grave    墓穴を掘る, みずから墓穴を掘る
• dig out    掘り出す, 捜し出す
• dig over    掘って捜す, 再考する
• dig up    掘り出す, 捜し出す, かき集める, 掘り起こす
• dig up/for/the dirt    発掘する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يحفر, يتعمق بشئ (الاسم) دفعه أو لكمه, عمليه الحفر, موقع ينقب فيه الآثار‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮חפר, עדר, חיבב, הבין, תחב‬
v. intr. - ‮חפר, עדר, חדר‬
n. - ‮עקיצה, דחיפה, מגורים, מעונות, אתר-חפירה‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.

dig	dig magazine