gouge something ↔ out phrasal verb (see also gouge)

1. to form a hole, space etc by digging into a surface and removing material, or to remove material by digging
gouge something ↔ out of
A rough road had been gouged out of the rock.
Every week 30,000 tonnes of slate are gouged out of the mountains.

2. gouge sb’s eyes out to remove someone’s eyes with a pointed weapon

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲