dig

dig1 [ dıg ] (past tense and past participle dug [ dʌg ] ; present participle dig|ging) verb **

1. ) intransitive or transitive to make a hole in earth or sand using your hands, a machine, or a tool, especially a shovel:

The children like to dig in the sand.

We dug a hole and planted the tree.

dig for something (=dig in order to find something): The boys were digging for worms.

freshly/newly dug: a freshly dug grave

2. ) transitive INFORMAL OLD-FASHIONED to like something. This word was used a lot by HIPPIES in the 1960s:

I really dig their music.

3. ) intransitive to try to find out information about someone, especially when they do not want you to:

The press has already started to dig.

dig deep

1. ) dig deep or dig into your pocket to manage to find a lot of money for something:

We are asking people to dig deep to help the victims of the war.

2. ) to try very hard to find out information about someone:

If I'd dug deeper, I might have found out what happened to his wife.

dig your heels in

to refuse to do something even though other people are trying to persuade you

dig a hole for yourself INFORMAL

to do something that will make your situation difficult or embarrassing

dig someone in the ribs

to push someone with your elbow because you want to get their attention

dig your own grave

to do something that will cause serious problems for you in the future

,dig a`round phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to try to find something inside a place or container by searching in every part of it:

She dug around in her purse for a pen.

2. ) to try very hard to find information about someone, usually when they do not want you to

,dig `in phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive INFORMAL to start eating food with a lot of enthusiasm: TUCK IN:

Come on, everybody dig in!

2. ) intransitive if something digs in, it presses hard into something else:

She gripped his arm so hard that her nails dug in.

3. ) intransitive or transitive if soldiers dig in or dig themselves in, they dig TRENCHES where they can wait for an attack

4. ) intransitive to prepare yourself for a difficult situation:

dig in for: Both sides are digging in for a long and bitter dispute.

5. ) transitive to mix something into the ground by digging:

You need to dig the fertilizer in.

,dig `into phrasal verb transitive

1. ) dig into something INFORMAL to try to find information about something

2. ) dig into something INFORMAL to start using money that you had been saving:

I've had to dig into my savings this month to pay for my car insurance.

3. ) dig (something) into something to put your hand in your pocket or bag in order to find something:

She dug into her pocket and took out a pen.

4. ) dig into something to press hard into something:

The seat belt was digging into my shoulder.

a ) dig something into something to make something press hard into another thing:

Jenny dug her nails into the palms of her hand.

5. ) dig something into something to mix something into the ground by digging:

I've been digging manure into the soil.

,dig `out phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to find something that you have not used or seen for a long time:

I'll dig out my old college notes later.

2. ) to get something out of a place or out of the ground by digging:

Rescuers are still digging people out of the rubble.

,dig `up phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to find information by searching carefully:

When we investigated his background, we dug up some interesting facts.

2. ) to remove something from under the ground by digging:

We will have to dig that tree up.

They dug up a body in his yard.

3. ) to dig holes in an area of land:

They've been digging up the road outside our house.

dig

dig 2 [ dıg ] noun count

1. ) a quick push with your elbow or finger that is intended to get someone's attention: JAB, PROD

2. ) INFORMAL a remark that you make in order to criticize someone or make a joke about them

3. ) the activity of digging in the ground in order to find ancient objects

=> DIGS