dig

English

/dɪɡ/, /dɪɡ/, /dɪd͡ʒ/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To move hard-packed earth out of the way, especially downward to make a hole with a shovel. Or to drill, or the like, through rocks, roads, or the like. More generally, to make any similar hole by moving material out of the way.
  • (transitive) To get by digging; to take from the ground; often with up.
  • (mining) To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.
  • (US) To work like a digger; to study ploddingly and laboriously.
  • (figurative) To investigate, to research, often followed by out or up.
  • To thrust; to poke.
  • (volleyball) To defend against an attack hit by the opposing team by successfully passing the ball

Etymology

Derived from Middle English diggen (dig) derived from Old English dīcian (mound up earth, dig a ditch) derived from Proto-Germanic *dīkaz (puddle, pool) derived from Proto-Indo-European *dʰīgʷ-.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*dʰīgʷ-

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms