different between excavation vs topsoiling

English

Etymology

From Latin excav?ti? (“a hollowing out”), from excav? (“I hollow out”), from ex + cav? (“I hollow out”), from cavus (“hollow”), from Proto-Indo-European *keu- (“vault, hole”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

excavation (countable and uncountable, plural excavations)

1. (uncountable) The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
2. (countable) A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
3. (countable) An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered cutting or tunnel.
4. (countable) The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.
5. (uncountable) Archaeological research that unearths buildings, tombs and objects of historical value.
6. (countable) A site where an archaeological exploration is being carried out.

Translations

French

Pronunciation

Noun

excavation f (plural excavations)

1. excavation

Further reading

• “excavation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

topsoil +? -ing

Noun

topsoiling (uncountable)

1. The removal of topsoil before an excavation or embankment is begun.