▸ dig around
1 PHRASAL VERB If you dig around in a place or container, you search for something in every part of it. □ [V P + in ] I went home to dig around in my closets for some old tapes. [Also V P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you dig around , you try to find information about someone or something. □ [V P ] They said, after digging around, the photo was a fake.
▸ dig in
1 PHRASAL VERB If you dig a substance in , or dig it into the soil, you mix it into the soil by digging. □ [V P n] I usually dig in a small barrow load of compost in late summer. □ [V n P n] To dig calcium into the soil, he warned, does not help the plant.
2 PHRASAL VERB When soldiers dig in or dig themselves in , they dig trenches and prepare themselves for an attack by the enemy. □ [V P ] The battalion went directly to the airport to begin digging in. □ [V pron-refl P ] The enemy must be digging themselves in now ready for the attack. □ [V -ed P ] Our forces are dug in along the river.
3 PHRASAL VERB If someone digs in , or digs into some food, they start eating eagerly. If you tell someone to dig in , you are inviting them to start eating, and encouraging them to eat as much as they want. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] 'Listen,' said Daisy, digging into her oatmeal. □ [V P ] Pull up a chair and dig in!
▸ dig out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you dig someone or something out of a place, you get them out by digging or by forcing them from the things surrounding them. □ [V n P + of ] …digging minerals out of the Earth. □ [V P n] She dug out a photograph from under a pile of papers. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you dig something out , you find it after it has been stored, hidden, or forgotten for a long time. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] Recently, I dug out Barstow's novel and read it again. □ [V n P ] We'll try and dig the number out for you if you want it.
▸ dig up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you dig up something, you remove it from the ground where it has been buried or planted. □ [V P n] You would have to dig up the plant yourself. □ [V n P ] Dig it up once the foliage has died down.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you dig up an area of land, you dig holes in it. □ [V P n] Yesterday they continued the search, digging up the back yard of a police station. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If you dig up information or facts, you discover something that has not previously been widely known. □ [V P n] Managers are too expensive and important to spend time digging up market information. □ [V -ed P ] His description fits perfectly the evidence dug up by Clyde. [Also V n P ] COLLOCATIONS dig NOUN 8
adjective + dig : cheeky, good-natured, light-hearted, playful, tongue-in-cheek; sly, subtle; thinly-veiled
di|gest (digests , digesting , digested ) The verb is pronounced /da I dʒe st/. The noun is pronounced /da I dʒest/. 1 VERB When food digests or when you digest it, it passes through your body to your stomach. Your stomach removes the substances that your body needs and gets rid of the rest. □ [V ] Do not undertake strenuous exercise for a few hours after a meal to allow food to digest. □ [V n] She couldn't digest food properly. □ [V -ed] Nutrients from the digested food can be absorbed into the blood.
2 VERB If you digest information, you think about it carefully so that you understand it. □ [V n] They learn well but seem to need time to digest information.
3 VERB If you digest some unpleasant news, you think about it until you are able to accept it and know how to deal with it. □ [V n] All this has upset me. I need time to digest it all.
4 N‑COUNT A digest is a collection of pieces of writing. They are published together in a shorter form than they were originally published. □ …the Middle East Economic Digest.
di|gest|ible /da I dʒe st I b ə l/
1 ADJ [oft adv ADJ ] Digestible food is food that is easy to digest. □ Bananas are easily digestible.
2 ADJ If a theory or idea is digestible , it is easy to understand. □ The book's aim was to make economic theory more digestible.
di|ges|tion /da I dʒe stʃən/ (digestions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Digestion is the process of digesting food. □ No liquids are served with meals because they interfere with digestion.
2 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Your digestion is the system in your body which digests your food.
di|ges|tive /da I dʒe st I v/ ADJ [ADJ n] You can describe things that are related to the digestion of food as digestive . □ …digestive juices that normally work on breaking down our food.
di|ge s|tive sys|tem (digestive systems ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Your digestive system is the system in your body that digests the food you eat.
dig|ger /d I gə r / (diggers ) N‑COUNT A digger is a machine that is used for digging. □ …a mechanical digger.
digi|cam /d I dʒ I kæm/ (digicams ) N‑COUNT A digicam is the same as a digital camera .
dig|it /d I dʒ I t/ (digits )
1 N‑COUNT A digit is a written symbol for any of the ten numbers from 0 to 9. □ Her telephone number differs from mine by one digit.
2 N‑COUNT A digit is a finger, thumb, or toe. [FORMAL ]
digi|tal ◆◇◇ /d I dʒ I t ə l/
1 ADJ Digital systems record or transmit information in the form of thousands of very small signals. □ Digital technology allowed a rapid expansion in the number of TV channels. ● digi|tal|ly ADV [ADV -ed] □ …digitally recorded sound.