land mine
Other forms: land mines
A land mine is an explosive that's left on the ground or buried just under the surface. During war, retreating armies sometimes leave land mines that explode when people walk or drive over them.
Land mines are extremely controversial because they remain dangerous for years after a war has ended and frequently kill or injure civilians. Hundreds of countries have signed a treaty that would ban them. The noun mine comes from the verb meaning "lay explosives underground," a process that involves tunneling into the soil the way a miner does.
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an explosive mine hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven oversynonyms: booby trap, ground-emplaced minetypes:bouncing bettyan antipersonnel land minetype of:mineexplosive device that explodes on contact; designed to destroy vehicles or ships or to kill or maim personnel
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Vocabulary lists containing land mine
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