crate-dig

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To shop for vintage, rare, or otherwise obscure recordings, especially by looking through crates containing secondhand merchandise.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Earlier this year, German crate-digging label Analog Africa released a retrospective of Mayorga’s more exploratory electronic works, while a new album of original compositions titled Cumbia Pishcodélica is slated for release in the coming months via Musicoteca Ecuador.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “crate-dig” mean?

To shop for vintage, rare, or otherwise obscure recordings, especially by looking through crates containing secondhand merchandise.

Is “crate-dig” formal or informal?

crate-dig is generally slang.