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noun

excavator

EHKS-kuh-vay-tuh

Excavator (noun) means a large machine, usually on tracks, used to dig earth. Example: “An excavator cleared the ground before the building work began.”

noun
1
A large machine, usually on tracks, used to dig earth.
"An excavator cleared the ground before the building work began."
2
A person who carries out excavation, especially at an archaeological site.
"The lead excavator catalogued every artifact found in the trench."

How to use excavator

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the digging machine or the person doing the digging.

Common pairings
mechanical excavator hire an excavator

Word forms

excavators plural

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Fill the gap

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An _____ cleared the ground before the building work began.

Etymology

From excavate + the agent suffix -or.

shovel digger power shovel

Related words

Rhymes for excavator

See all rhymes for excavator →

Frequently asked questions

What does “excavator” mean?

The word “excavator” means a large machine, usually on tracks, used to dig earth. In plain terms, either the digging machine or the person doing the digging.

How do you pronounce “excavator”?

“Excavator” is pronounced EHKS-kuh-vay-tuh (/ˈɛkskəˌveɪtɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “excavator” in a sentence?

Here is “excavator” used in a sentence: “An excavator cleared the ground before the building work began.”

What part of speech is “excavator”?

“Excavator” is a noun.

How many meanings does “excavator” have?

“Excavator” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large machine, usually on tracks, used to dig earth.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial