mining

[ mahy-ning ]

/ ˈmaɪ nɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR mining ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act, process, or industry of extracting ores, coal, etc., from mines.

the laying of explosive mines.

Origin of mining

1250–1300; Middle English: undermining (walls in an attack); see mine², -ing¹

Words nearby mining

minimum-access programming, minimum-security, minimum-wage, minimumweight, minimus, mining, mining bee, mining eng., mining engineering, mining geology, mininuke

Definition for mining (2 of 2)

mine ²

[ mahyn ]

/ maɪn /

noun

an excavation made in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, precious stones, etc.

a place where such minerals may be obtained, either by excavation or by washing the soil.

a natural deposit of such minerals.

an abundant source; store: a mine of information.

a device containing a charge of explosive in a watertight casing, floating on or moored beneath the surface of the water for the purpose of blowing up an enemy ship that strikes it or passes close by it.

a similar device used on land against personnel or vehicles; land mine.

a subterranean passage made to extend under an enemy's works or position, as for the purpose of securing access or of depositing explosives for blowing up a military position.

a passageway in the parenchyma of a leaf, made by certain insects.

verb (used without object), mined, min·ing.

to dig in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, etc.; make a mine.

to extract coal, ore, or the like, from a mine.

to make subterranean passages.

to place or lay mines, as in military or naval operations.

verb (used with object), mined, min·ing.

to dig in (earth, rock, etc.) in order to obtain ores, coal, etc.

to extract (ore, coal, etc.) from a mine.

to avail oneself of or draw useful or valuable material from: to mine every reference book available in writing the term paper.

to use, especially a natural resource: to mine the nation's forests.

to make subterranean passages in or under; burrow.

to make (passages, tunnels, etc.) by digging or burrowing.

to dig away or remove the foundations of.

to place or lay military or naval mines under: to mine an enemy supply road.

Agriculture. to grow crops in (soil) over an extended time without fertilizing.

to remove (a natural resource) from its source without attempting to replenish it.

Origin of mine

1275–1325; 1875–80 for def 5; (v.) Middle English minen < Old French miner (cognate with Provençal, Spanish minar, Italian minare) < Vulgar Latin *mīnāre, probably < a Celtic base *mein-; compare MIr méin, Welsh mwyn ore, mineral; (noun) Middle English < Middle French, perhaps noun derivative of miner; compare Medieval Latin mina mine, mineral

SYNONYMS FOR mine

4 supply, stock, fund, hoard.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR mine ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM mine

un·mined, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for mining

So, Schmidt followed the gold rush to the El Paso mountains and claimed an area of mining land.

The Mole Man’s Tunnel to Nowhere |Nina Strochlic |November 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Eventually, he said, he spoke with a former official who had worked on a contract for the mining company.

The Secret Money Buying Wisconsin’s Laws |ProPublica |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Schultz agreed that mining regulations should be streamlined.

The Secret Money Buying Wisconsin’s Laws |ProPublica |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“I understood the consequences of mining done poorly,” Schultz said.

The Secret Money Buying Wisconsin’s Laws |ProPublica |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Some Wisconsin lawmakers suspect the full amount the mining company poured into such groups may never be known.

The Secret Money Buying Wisconsin’s Laws |ProPublica |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He would have preferred to discuss something more personal than his mining affairs.

For the Allinson Honor |Harold Bindloss
But it is time to proceed with the history of mining in Mysore.

Gold, Sport, And Coffee Planting In Mysore |Robert H. Elliot
The majority died on the way, or while mining for the precious metal, or returned as poor as they went.

The Theology of Holiness |Dougan Clark
Mining atomic power metals in the asteroid belt would bring the biggest returns, he said.

The Black Tide |Arthur G. Stangland
Three large rivers, which flow from the mining district of the mountains, fall into this bay.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, Volume V., 1582-1583 |Various

British Dictionary definitions for mining (1 of 3)

mining

/ (ˈmaɪnɪŋ) /

noun

the act, process, or industry of extracting coal, ores, etc, from the earth

military the process of laying mines

British Dictionary definitions for mining (2 of 3)

mine ¹

/ (maɪn) /

pronoun

something or someone belonging to or associated with me mine is best

of mine belonging to or associated with me

determiner

(preceding a vowel) an archaic word for my 1 mine eyes; mine host

Word Origin for mine

Old English mīn; compare Old High German, Old Norse mīn, Dutch mijn

British Dictionary definitions for mining (3 of 3)

mine ²

/ (maɪn) /

noun

a system of excavations made for the extraction of minerals, esp coal, ores, or precious stones

any deposit of ore or minerals

a lucrative source or abundant supply she was a mine of information

a device containing an explosive designed to destroy ships, vehicles, or personnel, usually laid beneath the ground or in water

a tunnel or sap dug to undermine a fortification

a groove or tunnel made by certain insects, esp in a leaf

verb

to dig into (the earth) for (minerals)

to make (a hole, tunnel, etc) by digging or boring

to place explosive mines in position below the surface of (the sea or land)

to undermine (a fortification) by digging mines or saps

another word for undermine

Derived forms of mine

minable or mineable, adjective

Word Origin for mine

C13: from Old French, probably of Celtic origin; compare Irish mein, Welsh mwyn ore, mine

Scientific definitions for mining

mine

[ mīn ]

An underground excavation in the Earth from which ore, rock, or minerals can be extracted.

Idioms and Phrases with mining

mine

see back to the salt mines; gold mine; your guess is as good as mine.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

mining

noun

Origin of mining

Words nearby mining

Definition for mining (2 of 2)

noun