An auger is used to drill holes.
An example of an auger is the tool used to dig holes for posts.
- a narrow tool for boring holes in wood, etc., with a sharp end for cutting and spiral grooves for channeling the shavings out of the hole: it is larger than a gimlet
- a similar but larger tool, as for boring holes in the earth
Origin of augerby faulty separation of Middle English a nauger ; from Old English nafogar, nave drill ; from nafu, nave + gar, a spear: see gore
- a. Any of various hand tools, typically having a threaded shank and cross handle, used for boring holes in wood or ice.b. A drill bit.
- a. A machine having a helical flange attached to a rotating shaft, used for drilling and boring or as a conveyor of loose material.b. The rotating shaft and flange of such a machine, considered as a single unit.
transitive verbau·gered, au·ger·ing, au·gers
Origin of augerMiddle English, from an auger, alteration of a nauger, from Old English nafogar, auger; see nobh- in Indo-European roots.
(third-person singular simple present augers, present participle augering, simple past and past participle augered)
- to use an auger; to drill a hole using an auger.
From Middle English nauger, from Old English nafogār (“nave drill”), from Proto-Germanic *nabōgaizaz. Cognate with Dutch avegaar.