Definition of 'mine'
pronoun
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present
tense mines
, present participle mining
, past tense, past participle mined
1. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
2. verb [usually passive]
When a mineral such as coal, diamonds, or gold is mined, it is obtained from the ground by digging deep holes and tunnels.
The pit is being shut down because it no longer has enough coal that can be mined
economically. [be VERB-ed]
...the finest gems, mined from all corners of the world. [VERB-ed]
3. countable noun
4. verb
If an area of land or water is mined, mines are placed there which will explode when people or things touch them.
The approaches to the garrison have been heavily mined. [be VERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun] 6. See also mining
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'mine'
determiner
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'mine'
verb
7.
to dig into (the earth) for (minerals)
9.
to place explosive mines in position below the surface of (the sea or land)
10.
to undermine (a fortification) by digging mines or saps
11. another word for undermine
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
adjective
Word origin of 'mine'
noun
1.
a.
a large excavation made in the earth, from which to extract metallic ores, coal, precious stones, salt, or certain other minerals
see also quarry3b.
the surface buildings, shafts, elevators, etc. of such an excavation
c.
a deposit of ore, coal, etc.
2.
any great source of supply
a mine of information
4. Military
a.
verb intransitiveWord forms: mined or ˈmining
verb transitive
7.
a.
to dig in (the earth) for ores, coal, etc.
b.
to dig or remove (ores, coal, etc.) from the earth
8.
to take from (a source)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'mine'
pronoun
possessive pronominal adjective
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Example sentences containing 'mine'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
Read more…
Few expected him to succeed in winning approval to build a big mine beneath a national park. Times, Sunday Times (2016)None of their mine and bomb models are designed to disable. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The price tag is likely to include upfront cash plus further payments depending on the coal price and mine performance. Times, Sunday Times (2016)An old girlfriend of mine tells me she's getting married. Times, Sunday Times (2016)In a matter of hours they look as if they've been down a coal mine. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The nationalisation of the coal mines in 1946 meant the family lost control of their lucrative income stream. The Sun (2016)It's hard to put a figure on how bad that will be but make mine a large one. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Gentle winter pruning keeps mine to about 1.5m x 1.5m. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Nine teams of rescuers were trying to contact three miners missing underground after an earthquake killed five others in Europe's largest copper mine. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The data gold mine kept yielding nuggets. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Those who work in deep mines experience this heat flux at uncomfortably close quarters. THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)Preparing a rare earth mine to western environmental standards is costly. Times, Sunday Times (2009)His lips were touching mine and his eyes were looking into mine. Seminary Boy (2006)Their work will be mined for information for years to come. Times, Sunday Times (2015)But these problems were mine to deal with. Times, Sunday Times (2016)What is the area of his circle divided by the area of mine? Times, Sunday Times (2011)The quotations in this book are a gold mine for other writers. The Times Literary Supplement (2011)The past was for books like mine. The Tribes Triumphant (2006)Sounds ace for big families like mine. The Sun (2016)We should use robots to detect and destroy mines. The Sun (2011)It is a very inconvenient fault of mine. Middlemarch (1872)Oceans where technology has made it possible to catch fish and mine for minerals at any depth need refuges. Times, Sunday Times (2015)The fronds can reach five metres long in their native conditions - mine are about two metres. Times, Sunday Times (2010)A mine exploded beneath the vehicle, and the crew were all killed. Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Trends of 'mine'
Very Common. mine is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
View usage for:
Translations for 'mine'
British English: mine
/maɪn/ NOUN
A mine is a deep hole or tunnel where people go to dig things like gold or diamonds out of rock.
- American English: mine
- Arabic: مَنْجِمٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: mina
- Chinese: 矿
- Croatian: rudnik
- Czech: důl
- Danish: mine
- Dutch: mijn
- European Spanish: mina
- Finnish: kaivos
- French: mine
- German: Bergwerk
- Greek: ορυχείο
- Italian: miniera
- Japanese: 鉱山
- Korean: 광산
- Norwegian: gruve
- Polish: kopalnia
- European Portuguese: mina
- Romanian: mină
- Russian: рудник
- Spanish: mina
- Swedish: mina
- Thai: เหมืองแร่
- Turkish: maden ocağı
- Ukrainian: шахта
- Vietnamese: mỏ khoáng sản
- American English: mine
- Arabic: مَلِكِيٌّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: meu
- Chinese: 我的
- Croatian: moj
- Czech: můj
- Danish: min
- Dutch: mijn
- European Spanish: mío
- Finnish: minun
- French: mien (le)
- German: mein
- Greek: δικός μου
- Italian: mio
- Japanese: 私のもの
- Korean: 내 것
- Norwegian: min
- Polish: mój
- European Portuguese: meu
- Romanian: al meu
- Russian: мой
- Spanish: mío
- Swedish: min
- Thai: ของฉัน
- Turkish: benim
- Ukrainian: мій
- Vietnamese: của tôi
British English: mine VERB
When a mineral such as coal, diamonds, or gold is mined, it is obtained from the ground by digging deep holes and tunnels.
The pit is being shut down because it no longer has enough coal that can be mined economically.
Nearby words of 'mine'
Source
Definition of mine from the
Collins English Dictionary
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Meme Ban, Heart Age & Collagin: September’s Words in the News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this September with Robert Groves.
Read more
Collins Reference Catalogue 2019
View our new 2019 reference catalogue. From dictionaries, phrasebooks, language learning, atlases and maps, general reference and puzzles, you'll be sure to find books that appeal to you.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more