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to mine

to mine

21 4.0
To take metals or minerals from the ground by digging
  • verb
  • /maɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : extraer
  • Many countries have mined precious metals to boost their economies.
  • to mine coal
  • to mine ore
  • to mine diamonds

Examples

  • To discover new resources, the company mined deep into the ancient hills.

  • To date, over $800 million in gold has been mined in the area.

    Academic text (1994)
  • 95 % of these minerals are mined in China.

  • Even more interesting is the case of Botswana, which has mined diamonds for several decades.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Limestone is present in all the municipalities of Cebu and is widely mined as a building material.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The concrete blocks consist of locally mined lightweight aggregates, Portland cement, and water.

    Academic text (2008)
  • After the excavation was complete, they mined the area for valuable minerals.

Synonyms

to dig
vsto mine
912 1.0

To move earth with a tool to make a hole

focuses specifically on getting valuable materials by excavation rather than general earth moving
to surface-mine
vsto mine
7.4

To remove the top layer of ground to get minerals like coal

allows obtaining minerals by excavation at any depth including underground
to strip mine
vsto mine
  • Specialized
6.6

To remove large areas of earth and rock to get minerals near the surface

permits extraction by excavation at any depth rather than only stripping surface layers

Idioms

Something you say when you do not know the answer any more than the other person does

words, not mine
  • Informal
8.6

Something someone else says that you do not agree with

Saying you repeat someone else's words to show you do not agree

Phrasal Verbs

to strip-mine
  • Specialized
1 7.2

Remove the top layers of soil to get minerals using large machines

to surface mine
  • Specialized
1 6.0

To remove earth and rock from the ground to get coal or other minerals

To remove the top layer of ground to get minerals like coal

to strip mine
  • Specialized
6.6

To remove large areas of earth and rock to get minerals near the surface

to strip-mine
  • Literature
7.1

Take large amounts of data quickly from a website or database to sell

Compounds

29 4.1

A bomb buried in the ground that explodes when someone steps on or moves it

26 2.8

A place underground where people dig coal

gold mine
  • Informal
21 3.2

A source of many useful things like information or money

9 3.3

A place where people dig to find gold

4 3.7

A place where people dig copper from the ground

4 4.0

A place underground where people dig out salt for use

3 3.4

A place where people dig to take silver from the ground

A North American union for people who work in mines

strip mine
  • Specialized
2 6.0

An open area where workers remove earth and rock to get minerals near the surface

mine disposal
  • Specialized
1 6.1

Making landmines safe or removing them

A union that represents miners in the United States

claymore mine
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small bomb that explodes in one direction to hit people nearby

1 5.3

A mine where workers dig sulfur from the ground

mine detector
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A device that finds explosive mines buried on land or underwater

mine host
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A man who welcomes and looks after guests at an inn

floating mine
  • Specialized
8.2

A bomb that floats on water and explodes when a ship hits it

A topic that causes strong arguments and trouble

magnetic mine
  • Specialized
8.1

Underwater bomb that explodes when it senses a ship's metal hull

marine mine
  • Specialized
7.7

An underwater bomb placed to damage or sink ships

mine cage
  • Specialized
8.0

An enclosed platform that moves people and supplies up and down a mine shaft

mine pig
  • Archaic
9.7

Pure iron made directly from iron ore without recycled metal

mine run
  • Archaic
8.4

Not special or interesting

A bomb hidden in the ground that explodes when stepped on or driven over

hidden gold mine
  • Informal
6.0

A place or thing that has valuable information not easy to find

run-of-the-mine
  • Informal
7.2

Common and not special

salt mine
  • Informal
7.1

A joking name for a job or workplace where people do hard, boring work

How Extensive

to strip-mine
  • Specialized
1 7.2
to mine
  • Specialized
21 4.0
to extract
  • Specialized
70 4.1
to dig
912 1.0
to prospect
7 5.5
to sample
95 2.6

Surface Forms

mine infinitive
mined past
mined past participle
mining present participle
mines third person singular

Etymology

Mine meaning 'to dig for minerals' comes from the noun mine (a place to dig) and the idea of taking ore out of the earth, so to mine is to dig or remove valuable materials from the ground.