an excavation made in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, precious stones, etc.
2.
a place where such minerals may be obtained, either by excavation or by washing the soil.
3.
a natural deposit of such minerals.
4.
an abundant source; store: a mine of information.
5.
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.
6.
a similar device used on land against personnel or vehicles; land mine.
7.
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.
8.
a passageway in the parenchyma of a leaf, made by certain insects.
–verb (used without object)
9.
to dig in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, etc.; make a mine.
10.
to extract coal, ore, or the like, from a mine.
11.
to make subterranean passages.
12.
to place or lay mines, as in military or naval operations.
–verb (used with object)
13.
to dig in (earth, rock, etc.) in order to obtain ores, coal, etc.
14.
to extract (ore, coal, etc.) from a mine.
15.
to avail oneself of or draw useful or valuable material from: to mine every reference book available in writing the term paper.
16.
to use, esp. a natural resource: to mine the nation's forests.
17.
to make subterranean passages in or under; burrow.
18.
to make (passages, tunnels, etc.) by digging or burrowing.
19.
to dig away or remove the foundations of.
20.
to place or lay military or naval mines under: to mine an enemy supply road.
21.
Agriculture. to grow crops in (soil) over an extended time without fertilizing.
22.
to remove (a natural resource) from its source without attempting to replenish it.
[Origin: 1275–1325; 1875–80 for def. 5; (v.) ME minen < OF miner (c. Pr, Sp minar, It minare) < VL *mīnāre, prob. < a Celtic base *mein-; cf. MIr méin, Welsh mwyn ore, mineral; (n.) ME < MF, perh. n. deriv. of miner; cf. ML mina mine, mineral]
An excavation in the earth from which ore or minerals can be extracted.
The site of such an excavation, with its surface buildings, elevator shafts, and equipment.
A tunnel dug under an enemy emplacement to destroy it by explosives, cause it to collapse, or gain access to it for an attack.
An explosive device used to destroy enemy personnel, shipping, fortifications, or equipment, often placed in a concealed position and designed to be detonated by contact, proximity, or a time fuse.
A deposit of ore or minerals in the earth or on its surface.
An abundant supply or source of something valuable: This guidebook is a mine of information.
A tunnel dug under an enemy emplacement to destroy it by explosives, cause it to collapse, or gain access to it for an attack.
An explosive device used to destroy enemy personnel, shipping, fortifications, or equipment, often placed in a concealed position and designed to be detonated by contact, proximity, or a time fuse.
A burrow or tunnel made by an insect, especially a corridor on a leaf made by a leaf miner.
v.
mined, min·ing, mines
v.
tr.
To extract (ore or minerals) from the earth.
To dig a mine in (the earth) to obtain ore or minerals.
To tunnel under (the earth or a surface feature).
To make (a tunnel) by digging.
To tunnel under (the earth or a surface feature).
To make (a tunnel) by digging.
To lay explosive mines in or under.
To attack, damage, or destroy by underhand means; subvert.
To delve into and make use of; exploit: mine the archives for detailed information.
v.
intr.
To excavate the earth for the purpose of extracting ore or minerals.
To work in a mine.
To dig a tunnel under the earth, especially under an enemy emplacement or fortification.
To lay explosive mines.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *mīna, probably of Celtic origin.]
The process or business of extracting ore or minerals from the ground.
The process of digging under an enemy emplacement or fortification to destroy it by explosives, cause it to collapse, or gain access to it for an attack.
Mine\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mined; p. pr. & vb. n. Mining.]1. To dig away, or otherwise remove, the substratum or foundation of; to lay a mine under; to sap; to undermine; hence, to ruin or destroy by slow degrees or secret means. They mined the walls. --Hayward. Too lazy to cut down these immense trees, the spoilers . . . had mined them, and placed a quantity of gunpowder in the cavity. --Sir W. Scott. 2. To dig into, for ore or metal. Lead veins have been traced . . . but they have not been mined. --Ure. 3. To get, as metals, out of the earth by digging. The principal ore mined there is the bituminous cinnabar. --Ure.
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