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excavator

noun
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ex·​ca·​va·​tor | \ ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce excavator (audio) \

Definition of excavator

: 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 Now Alvin is a cross between a robotic laboratory and excavator. — Daniel Oberhaus, Wired, "The Oldest Crewed Deep Sea Submarine Just Got a Big Makeover," 21 Dec. 2020 In the middle of the Gowanus Canal, across from a luxury apartment complex and waterfront promenade, a yellow excavator was perched atop a floating barge. — Mihir Zaveri, New York Times, "Getting ‘Black Mayonnaise’ Out of One of America’s Dirtiest Waterways," 19 Nov. 2020 Matt Cline, 34, who lives in Gowanus, stood Monday on the promenade near the excavator with his baby slung to his chest. — Mihir Zaveri, New York Times, "Getting ‘Black Mayonnaise’ Out of One of America’s Dirtiest Waterways," 19 Nov. 2020 Beaver has said the gravel pit would not require blasting rocks but rather the gravel will be dug out with a single excavator. — John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, "Noblesville Plan Commission divided on gravel pit, sends to council with no recommendation," 17 Nov. 2020 Armstrong started coming to San Antonio Food Bank’s mega distributions at the start of the pandemic when her husband, an excavator, was laid off. — Liz Hardaway, ExpressNews.com, "‘It helps tremendously’: Hundreds of cars line up for San Antonio Food Bank help," 10 Nov. 2020 On Friday, two excavator construction vehicles clawed away at a pile of dirt at the amphitheater site. — Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, "Huntsville amphitheater funding approved. What’s next?," 23 Oct. 2020 Beaver said the gravel pit would not require blasting rocks but rather the gravel will be dug out with a single excavator. — John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, "'Don’t leave it to Beaver': Residents protest planned gravel pit at Noblesville City Hall," 20 Oct. 2020 Video posted to the group's Facebook page showed the two women sitting on the blade and the excavator of two bulldozers prior to their arrests, as Border Patrol agents and construction crews looked on, some of them recording with their cellphones. — Rafael Carranza, The Arizona Republic, "2 O'odham activists arrested after blocking border wall construction in southern Arizona," 11 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'excavator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of excavator

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for excavator

excavate + -or entry 1

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Time Traveler for excavator

Time Traveler

The first known use of excavator was circa 1815

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Statistics for excavator

Last Updated

31 Dec 2020

Cite this Entry

“Excavator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excavator. Accessed 19 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for excavator

excavator

noun
How to pronounce excavator (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of excavator

: a person who digs up things that have been buried for a long time

See the full definition for excavator in the English Language Learners Dictionary

excavator

noun
ex·​ca·​va·​tor | \ ˈek-skə-ˌvāt-ər How to pronounce excavator (audio) \

Medical Definition of excavator

: an instrument used to open bodily cavities (as in the teeth) or remove material from them

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