[mass noun]the action of excavating something, especially an archaeological site (指考古地点的)挖掘;发掘 the methods of excavation have to be extremely rigorous. 挖掘方式必须极其严格。 [count noun]students often participate in excavations. 学生经常参加挖掘活动。 ■[count noun]a site that is being or has been excavated 挖掘地
语源
early 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin excavatio(n-), from excavare 'hollow out' (see excavate)