excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce excavator (audio)
: one that excavates
especially : a power-operated shovel

Examples of excavator in a Sentence

The excavators found ancient tools at the site.
Recent Examples on the Web Three of them approached three excavators and, one by one, locked themselves to the machines, bringing the day’s work to a halt. Katie Myers, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2024 Archaeologists did not give a specific date range, but, according to National Geographic, ancient Rome’s imperial era lasted from 27 B.C. to 476 A.D., peaking in 117 A.D. The stone monument was so heavy that an excavator was needed to move it, officials said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 After initially flying around the southern end of Central Park, Flaco moved up to the North Woods of the urban oasis, feasting on rodents at a compost heap and hanging out at a construction site, where photographers snapped images of him perching atop a yellow excavator. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2024 An excavator found the set of Allosaurus bones and teeth while expanding the quarry, according to the release. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Jan. 2024 Somehow, the tusk had survived its trip through Freedom Mine’s digging operation in the scoop of a massive mining excavator and a dump truck bed without getting damaged. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2023 The excavator started by removing the siding and then the first level of the house. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2023 The huge excavators had broken into a hard clay soil that encased much of Tiber Creek, which was buried 150 years ago. John Muyskens, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023 Cars caked in red silt were leaving the flood zone as dozens of aid trucks and excavators from across the country headed the opposite direction into the affected region. Sarah Dadouch, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excavator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

excavate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of excavator was circa 1815

Dictionary Entries Near excavator

Cite this Entry

“Excavator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excavator. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

excavator

noun
ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvāt-ər How to pronounce excavator (audio)
: an instrument used to open bodily cavities (as in the teeth) or remove material from them
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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