excavate

Etymology 1

Known since 1599, from Latin excavātus (“hollowed out”), perfect passive participle of excavō (“hollow out”), from ex (“out”) + cavō (“make a hole”), from cavus (“cave, hole”).

verb

1. (transitive) To make a hole in (something); to hollow.
2. (transitive) To remove part of (something) by scooping or digging it out.
3. (transitive) To uncover (something) by digging.

Etymology 2

noun

1. (zoology) Any member of a major grouping of unicellular eukaryotes, of the clade Excavata.