Ĕx'ca-vāte, v. t.

(Synop., § 130), v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXCAVATED; p. pr. & vb. n. EXCAVATING.] [Lat. excavāre, excavātum, from ex, out, and cavāre, to make hollow, from cavus, hollow; Fr. excaver.] [See Note under CONTEMPLATE.]

1. To hollow out; to form a cavity or hole in; to make hollow by cutting, scooping, or digging, or the like; as, to excavate a ball; to excavate the earth.
2. To form by hollowing; to shape as a cavity, or any thing that is hollow; as, to excavate a canoe, or a cellar. “Excavated channels.” Evelyn.