excavate

vt. 挖空, 挖出, 凿通
vi. 挖空, 挖出, 凿通

动词过去式:excavated 过去分词:excavated 现在分词:excavating 第三人称单数:excavates 

ex.ca.vate

v.（动词）
ex.ca.vat.ed,ex.ca.vat.ing,ex.ca.vates
v.tr.（及物动词）
To make a hole in; hollow out:
开凿：凿洞；挖空：
例句：
excavate an ore-rich hillside.
在富矿山上挖洞穴

To form by hollowing out.
挖空：挖空成某种形状
To remove by digging or scooping out.
挖出：挖出以运走
To expose or uncover by or as if by digging:
挖掘：用挖掘或类似挖掘的办法揭开或移去：
例句：
excavate an archaeological site.
挖掘考古现场

v.intr.（不及物动词）
To engage in digging, hollowing out, or removing.
挖掘：忙于挖掘、开凿或运走

来源：
Latin excav3re excav3t- [to hollow out]
拉丁语 excav3re excav3t- [凿空]
ex- [ex-]
ex- [前缀，表.出自….]
cav3re [to hollow] from cavus [hollow] * see keu…-
cav3re [开凿] 源自 cavus [空的] *参见 keu…-