🇺🇸
/ˈɔː.dʒɚ/
🇺🇸
/ˈɔː.dʒɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːɡɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːɡɚ/
Plural
augers
An auger is a spiral-shaped tool—like a giant corkscrew—that bores into soil, wood, or ice by rotating and pulling itself forward; it's commonly used in construction, gardening, and archaeology to dig holes or extract samples. Think of it as nature’s own self-feeding drill: twist it, and it digs deeper without slipping out.
The landscaper used a hand auger to dig precise holes for planting saplings.
Before pouring concrete footings, contractors often use a power auger to bore deep, stable holes in the ground.
Fishermen on frozen lakes rely on lightweight ice augers to cut clean, round holes through thick ice.
The archaeologist carefully extracted sediment cores using a stainless-steel soil auger.
Never force an auger—if it binds, reverse rotation slightly to clear debris and prevent breakage.
auger
Comes from Middle English 'augre' (also 'awger'), derived from Old French 'auquier' or 'alquier', ultimately from Latin 'alucināri' (to twist, turn) — though this etymology is contested; more plausibly from a Germanic root related to 'aw' or 'aug' meaning 'to pierce' or 'to bore', reflected in Old English 'ōh' (a pointed tool) and Old High German 'ouh'. The word has been used since the 14th century as a standalone technical term for a drilling tool. Examples include auger bit, ice auger, soil auger, auger drill, screw auger.