mine

/maɪn/

/maɪn/

Other forms: mines; mining; mined

A mine is a hole in the earth from which workers take valuable things: coal, diamonds, copper. It is also a bomb that explodes when it's touched, often buried in the earth.

When you think of mines, think of something beneath the surface or hidden. People mine for gold by sifting through water and rocks. West Virginia is famous for its coal mines. A mine field might describe a field laced with explosives — such as landmines. When people put these explosives in place, they're mining the land. Also, any dangerous situation can be called a mine field. Talking about sensitive subjects — like religion or race — is a verbal mine field for sure.

Definitions of mine

1. noun

   excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
   types:

   coal mine, coalpit

   a mine where coal is dug from the ground

   copper mine

   a mine where copper is dug from the ground

   gold mine, goldmine

   a mine where gold ore is found

   salt mine

   a mine where salt is dug

   silver mine

   a mine where silver ore is dug

   strip mine

   an open mine (usually for coal) where the seams run close to the surface

   sulfur mine, sulphur mine

   a mine where sulphur is dug from the ground

   type of:

   excavation

   a hole in the ground made by excavating
2. verb

   get from the earth by excavation
   “mine ores and metals”

   types:

   strip mine, surface mine, surface-mine

   extract (ore) from a strip-mine

   type of:

   exploit, tap

   draw from; make good use of
3. noun

   explosive device that explodes on contact; designed to destroy vehicles or ships or to kill or maim personnel
   types:

   floating mine, marine mine

   an explosive mine designed to destroy ships that bump into it

   booby trap, ground-emplaced mine, land mine

   an explosive mine hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven over

   bouncing betty

   an antipersonnel land mine

   claymore, claymore mine

   an antipersonnel land mine whose blast is aimed at the oncoming enemy

   magnetic mine

   (nautical) a marine mine that is detonated by a mechanism that responds to magnetic material (as the steel hull of a ship)

   type of:

   explosive device

   device that bursts with sudden violence from internal energy
4. verb

   lay mines
   “The Vietnamese mined Cambodia”

   types:

   countermine

   destroy enemy mines with one's own mines

   type of:

   reenforce, reinforce

   make stronger
5. pronoun

   used to refer to something that belongs or relates to the speaker or writer, as in "She's a cousin of mine" or "Mine is broken"