1. (v. t.) To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade.

2. (v. t.) To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.

3. (v. t.) To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.

4. (v. t.) To thrust; to poke.

5. (v. i.) To work with a spade or other like implement; to do servile work; to delve.

6. (v. i.) To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.

7. (v. i.) To work like a digger; to study ploddingly and laboriously.

8. (n.) A thrust; a punch; a poke; as, a dig in the side or the ribs. See Dig, v. t., 4.

9. (n.) A plodding and laborious student.

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