Which statement best defines excavate?

• A. Dig a large hole or channel in the ground, especially with a machine
• B. Uncover or expose by digging; unearth
• C. Dig out and remove earth, soil, etc.
• D. Form a hole, tunnel, etc. by digging

Answer: (C)

Excavation is about removing material from the ground. The best definition captures that core action: to dig out and remove earth, soil, etc. This emphasizes the central idea of taking material away to reveal space beneath or beneath a surface, which is what digging to remove soil is all about.

Context helps: in construction or archaeology, you excavate to remove soil so you can access what lies below or create space. Other phrasings describe related outcomes—making a hole or tunnel, or uncovering something by digging—but they focus more on the result or a specific purpose rather than the fundamental act of removing earth.