excavator

Everyday

1. An excavator is a big machine with an arm and a bucket for digging up earth and rocks. tree →
2. An excavator is also a person who digs carefully at a site to find old objects, like an archaeologist. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life (building sites, roadworks), children's books about diggers, and history lessons about archaeology. Safety: stay away from working machines. Phrases: hydraulic excavator, mini excavator.

Examples

• The excavator dug a deep hole for the new pool. tree →
• My little brother loves watching excavators. tree →
• The excavator's bucket scooped up the soil. tree →
• Archaeologists worked as careful excavators at the Roman site. tree →
• Stay far away from a working excavator. tree →
• A mini excavator fitted through the garden gate. tree →

Note

Countable. Everyday name: digger (UK, Australia) or backhoe (a type, US). Say «EX-ka-vay-ter».