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to bury the time capsule

to bury the time capsule

1 6.6
To put a box with items in the ground to be opened later
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈbɛri ðə taɪm ˈkæpsəl/
translation icon : enterrar la cápsula del tiempo
  • Last summer, the community came together to bury the time capsule containing letters and photos from 2022.

Examples

  • Do you remember the day your students buried the time capsule?

  • The students gathered to bury the time capsule at the park for future generations to discover.

  • Every year, the school organizes an event to bury the time capsule filled with mementos from the current class.

Synonyms

to bury
vsto bury the time capsule
1.7

To put something in the ground and cover it with soil, for example a body or treasure

intends a sealed container to be put in ground for later discovery
to archive
vsto bury the time capsule
30 3.9

To store documents or emails in a safe place for long-term keeping and later use

puts a sealed container into the ground intended for later discovery
to stash away
vsto bury the time capsule
  • Informal
13 4.9

Put something in a hidden place to use later

positions a sealed container in the ground so others can find it later
to store away
vsto bury the time capsule
3 2.6

To put something in a safe place to use later

places a sealed container into the ground for planned later discovery

How Long

to archive
30 3.9
to preserve
496 3.4
to bury the time capsule
1 6.6
to store
463 1.0
to discard
130 2.7

Surface Forms

buried the time capsule past participle
burying the time capsule present participle
buries the time capsule third person singular

Morphology

bury + the + time + capsule

The verb 'bury' (to put into the earth) combined with the compound 'time capsule' (a capsule related to time — a container for items intended for future opening) yields a directly compositional meaning: to place such a container in the ground for later discovery. A B1 learner who knows 'bury', 'time', and 'capsule' can readily infer this sense because it follows normal English verb + noun compositional patterns and is conceptually transparent.

Etymology

The phrase bury the time capsule comes from the real act of putting keepsakes or notes into a box and then placing that box in the ground; people bury a time capsule so future people can find it. That's why it means 'to place a container of objects or messages in the ground to be opened later'.