As a Noun: 1. The act of making holes in the ground using your hand, a spade, or some special machine. English = digging. 2. The digging of deep holes and tunnels in the ground in order to find coal, diamonds, gold, and other precious things. English = mining. 3. The removing of earth carefully from a piece of land and to look for the remains of pots, bones, or buildings, in order to discover information about the past. English = excavation. 4. A large machine for digging and removing earth. English = digger, excavator. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To make a hole in the ground using your hand, a spade, or some special machine. English = dig, dig up. 2. To dig deep holes and tunnels in the ground in order to find coal, diamonds, gold, and other precious things. English = mine. 3. To remove earth carefully from a piece of land and to look for the remains of pots, bones, or buildings, in order to discover information about the past. English = excavate.