383
dignify
mountain to lay this pipe. | The prisoners escaped by digging
an underground tunnel. → see also DIGGER, DIGGINGS 3 [T]
to uncover (especially root vegetables) by taking away the
earth: to dig potatoes 4 [T] old-fash slang to like and under-
stand; APPRECIATE: I really dig the way she sings. 5 dig for
victory a phrase used in Britain during the Second World
War to encourage people to grow their own fruit and
vegetables in order to help Britain win the war 6 dig one's
own grave to cause one's own failure, ruin, or death: You're
just digging your own grave if you go on smoking so heav-
ily. 7 dig someone in the ribs to touch someone with one's
elbow, especially to share a joke
dig in phr v 1 [T[dig sthg. ↔ in]] to mix (something) into the
soil by digging: to dig in some fertilizer/dig some fertilizer
into the soil 2 [i;T[dig sby. in]] to make a protective place for
(oneself) by digging: The soldiers were ordered to dig (them-
selves) in. 3 [T[dig sby. in]] infml to establish (oneself) in a
position; get (oneself) firmly settled: I like my new job but I
haven't had time to dig myself in yet. | I'm well dug in
now. 4 [I] infml to help oneself to food and start eating; TUCK
in: Here's your breakfast, so dig in! 5 dig one's heels in infml
to refuse to change one's mind or do what others want
dig into phr v [T] 1 [(dig sthg. into sbdy./sthg.)] to push into: to
dig a fork into the meat 2 [(dig into sthg.)] to examine thor-
oughly: The police are digging into all the old files connected
with this case.
dig sthg. ↔ out phr v [T(ø)] 1 to get out by digging; free
from being buried: to dig the car out of the snow 2 to find by
searching: I dug out these old trousers to give to the boy. | By
careful questioning they managed to dig out the information
they were looking for.
dig sthg. ↔ up phr v [T] 1 to find or take out of the ground
by digging: We dug up the rose bushes and planted some
cabbages. 2 to find (something hidden or forgotten) by
careful searching; UNEARTH: Her political opponents dug up a
scandal from her past.
dig² n infml 1 a quick push; POKE: John's falling asleep – just
give him a dig! | (fig.) That last remark was a dig at me.
(=made in order to annoy me) 2 a process of digging up an
ancient place, town, or building so that it can be studied by
students of ancient times: to go on an archaeological dig →
see also DIGS
di·gest¹ /dar'dʒest, dʒ-/ v 1 [i;T] to (cause to) be changed
after eating into a form that the body can use: Mary can't
digest fat. | Cheese doesn't digest easily. 2 [T] to think about
and understand the meaning or importance of; ASSIMILATE: It
took me some time to digest what I had heard. → compare
INGEST —ible adj
di·gest² /'dardʒest/ n a short account of a piece of writing
which gives the most important facts: a digest of Roman
laws
di·ges·tion /dar'dʒestʃən, dʒ-/ n [C;U] the act of digesting
or the ability to digest food: He has a good/weak digestion. |
This rich food is bad for your digestion. → compare INDIGES-
TION
di·ges·tive /dar'dʒestɪv, dʒ-/ adj [A] connected with or
helping in the digesting of food: the digestive processes | the
human digestive system
di,gestive 'biscuit n a type of plain, slightly sweet BISCUIT
which is popular in the UK and is sometimes eaten with
cheese
dig·ger /'dɪgə/ n a person or machine that digs
dig·gings /'dɪgɪŋz/ n [P] 1 a place where people dig for
metal, especially gold 2 old-fash for DIGS
Di·gi·box /'dɪdʒbɒks||-bɑːks/ trademark a piece of electronic
equipment which people in the UK put on top of their
televisions if they want to receive DIGITAL programmes broad-
cast by the SATELLITE TV company BSkyB. A Digibox can also
connect a television to the Internet. → see also SET-TOP BOX
di·gi·cam /'dɪdʒɪkæm/ n [C] a type of camera that can store
pictures in a DIGITAL form which can be put into a computer
rather than on film
di·git /'dɪdʒɪt/ n 1 any of the numbers from 0 to 9: The
number 2001 contains four digits. 2 ml a finger or toe
di·gi·tal/'dɪdʒɪtl/ adj 1 of or based on a system in which
information is represented in the form of changing electrical
signals: a high-quality digital sound recording 2 showing
digestive system
oral cavity
esophagus
liver
stomach
gall bladder
pancreas
colon
appendix
small intestine
rectum
quantity in the form of numbers, rather than as a point on a
scale etc: a digital watch | a digital reading 3 ml of the
fingers and toes —ly adv
Digital trademark the usual name for the Digital Equipment
Corporation (also known as DEC), which was one of the
largest computer companies in the world until it was bought
by Compaq in 1998
,digital 'audio ,tape n [U] → see DAT
,digital 'camera n a camera that does not contain any film,
but stores photographs as digital images which you can look
at and change on a computer screen
,digital 'clock n a clock which shows the time as a line of
numbers usually on the 24 hour system instead of having
two hands point to the numbers → see picture at CLOCK
,digital ,compact cas'sette abbrev. DCC, also ,digital
cas'sette n a container holding sound that has been
digitally recorded
,digital ,compact cas'sette ,player also ,digital
cas'sette ,player n a machine for playing digital com-
pact cassettes
,digital ,compact 'disc n a COMPACT DISC on which sound
is recorded in the form of changing electrical signals (digit-
ally)
,digital com'puter n a type of computer, now the most
common type, that performs operations by using a BINARY
system → compare ANALOGUE COMPUTER
,digital 'radio also DAB digital radio n 1 [U] a radio
broadcasting system that uses DAB DIGITAL technology. It
gives the listener a larger choice of radio programmes, better
RECEPTION, and clearer sound than traditional radio. 2 [C] a
radio that operates using DIGITAL technology. Digital radios
usually have a screen which allows you to receive informa-
tion in writing about the programme that is being broad-
cast, for example the name of a song that is being played.
,digital re'cording n 1 (the act of) recording using a
system of numbers instead of sound waves 2 a recording
made in this way
,digital 'television abbrev. DTV a system of television broad-
casting that uses DIGITAL signals. It provides better sound and
picture quality than traditional ANALOGUE television, INTER-
ACTIVE services, and a larger choice of CHANNELS.
di·gi·tize also -tise BrE /'dɪdʒɪtaɪz/ v [T] to put (informa-
tion) into a digital form —tizer n —tization
/,dɪdʒɪtaɪ'zeɪʃən||-tə-/ n [U]
dig·ni·fied /'dɪgnɪfaɪd/ adj having or showing dignity: a
dignified manner | a dignified old man → opposite UNDIGNI-
FIED
dig·ni·fy /'dɪgnɪfaɪ/ v [T(by, with)] to give dignity or impor-
tance to (especially something that does not deserve it):
Don't try to dignify those few hairs on your face by calling
them a beard!