From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dig \Dig\ (d[i^]g), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dug (d[u^]g) or
Digged (d[i^]gd); p. pr. & vb. n. Digging. -- Digged is
archaic.] [OE. diggen, perh. the same word as diken, dichen
(see Dike, Ditch); cf. Dan. dige to dig, dige a ditch; or
(?) akin to E. 1st dag. [root]67.]
1. To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to
open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or
other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if
with a spade.
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Be first to dig the ground. --Dryden.
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2. To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.
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3. To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing
earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.
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4. To thrust; to poke. [Colloq.]
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You should have seen children . . . dig and push
their mothers under the sides, saying thus to them:
Look, mother, how great a lubber doth yet wear
pearls. --Robynson
(More's
Utopia).
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5. To like; enjoy; admire. The whole class digs Pearl Jam.
[Colloq.]
[PJC]
To dig down, to undermine and cause to fall by digging; as,
to dig down a wall.
To dig from, To dig out of, To dig out, To dig up, to
get out or obtain by digging; as, to dig coal from or out
of a mine; to dig out fossils; to dig up a tree. The
preposition is often omitted; as, the men are digging
coal, digging iron ore, digging potatoes.
To dig in,
(a) to cover by digging; as, to dig in manure.
(b) To entrench oneself so as to give stronger resistance;
-- used of warfare or negotiating situations.
to dig in one's heels To offer stubborn resistance.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Digging \Dig"ging\, n.
1. The act or the place of digging or excavating.
Syn: excavation, dig.
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2. pl. Places where ore is dug; especially, certain
localities in California, Australia, and elsewhere, at
which gold is obtained. [Recent]
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3. pl. Region; locality. [Low]
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4. a thorough search for something (often causing disorder or
confusion).
Syn: ransacking, rummage.
[WordNet 1.5]