/ˈekskəveɪt ||; ˈɛkskəˌvet/verb [I,T] to dig in the ground to look for old objects or buildings that have been buried for a long time; to find sth by digging in this way 发掘（古物）；挖掘 · A Roman villa has been excavated in a valley near the village. 村旁的山谷里发掘出一座罗马时代的宅第。 ➔excavation /ˌekskəˈveɪʃn ||; ˌɛkskəˈveʃən/ noun [C,U] Excavations on the site have revealed Saxon objects. 遗址发掘出几件撒克逊人的物品。