noun
excavator
EHKS-kuh-vay-tuh
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 notesIn 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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An _____ cleared the ground before the building work began.
Etymology
From excavate + the agent suffix -or.