Mining

UK: /ˈmaɪnɪŋ/ US: (mī′ning)

From the verb mine: (⇒ conjugate)

mining is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

mine¹ /maɪn/   pron. 

1. the form of the pronoun I used to show possession after the verb be:
   The yellow sweater is mine.
2. the form of the pronoun I used to refer to a thing or things that belong to the speaker:
   Mine is on the left. He was a good friend of mine.

mine² /maɪn/   n., v., mined, min•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Mining an area dug up for minerals, as ore, coal, or precious stones:
   the diamond mines of South Africa.
2. an abundant source;
   store:
   a mine of information.
3. Military an explosive device placed in the ground or in the water that is designed to blow up when enemy troops, vehicles, or ships pass near it.

v. 

4. Mining to dig in (the earth) for extracting a mineral substance: [no object]
   to mine for a year before striking gold.
   [~ + object]
   to mine an area for years.
5. Mining to dig out (a mineral) from a mine: [no object]
   to mine for gold.
   [~ + object]
   to mine gold, diamonds, and silver.
6. Military to place mines, as in military or naval operations:
   [~ + object] to mine the entrance to the harbor.
7. to use for extracting material from:
   [~ + object] to mine every reference book available.

min•er, n. 

[countable] miners out on strike.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

min•ing  (mī′ning), n. 

1. Mining the act, process, or industry of extracting ores, coal, etc., from mines.
2. Military the laying of explosive mines.

• 1250–1300; Middle English: undermining (walls in an attack); see mine², -ing¹

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mine¹  (mīn), pron. 

1. a form of the possessive case of I used as a predicate adjective:
   The yellow sweater is mine.
2. something that belongs to me:
   Mine is the red car.
3. [Archaic.] my (used before a word beginning with a vowel or a silent h, or following a noun):
   mine eyes; lady mine.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English mīn my; cognate with Old Norse mīn, German mein, Gothic meina; see me

mine²  (mīn), n., v., mined, min•ing. 
n. 

1. Mining an excavation made in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, precious stones, etc.
2. Mining a place where such minerals may be obtained, either by excavation or by washing the soil.
3. Mining a natural deposit of such minerals.
4. an abundant source;
   store:
   a mine of information.
5. Military 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. Military a similar device used on land against personnel or vehicles;
   land mine.
7. Military 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. Plant Diseases a passageway in the parenchyma of a leaf, made by certain insects.

v.i. 

9. Mining to dig in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, etc.;
   make a mine.
10. Mining to extract coal, ore, or the like, from a mine.
11. to make subterranean passages.
12. Military to place or lay mines, as in military or naval operations.

v.t. 

13. Mining to dig in (earth, rock, etc.) in order to obtain ores, coal, etc.
14. Mining 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. Military 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. Ecology to remove (a natural resource) from its source without attempting to replenish it.

• Middle French, perh. noun, nominal derivative of miner; compare Medieval Latin mina mine, mineral
• a Celtic base *mein-; compare Middle Irish méin, Welsh mwyn ore, mineral; (noun, nominal) Middle English
• Vulgar Latin *mīnāre, probably
• Old French miner (cognate with Provencal, Spanish minar, Italian minare)
• 1275–1325; 1875–80 for def. 5; (verb, verbal) Middle English minen

Synonyms

• 4. supply, stock, fund, hoard.

Min.E., 

1. Mineral Engineer.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mining / ˈmaɪnɪŋ/ noun

1. the act, process, or industry of extracting coal, ores, etc, from the earth
2. the process of laying mines

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mine / maɪn/ pronoun

1. something or someone belonging to or associated with me: mine is best
2. of mine ⇒ belonging to or associated with me

determiner

1. (preceding a vowel)
   an archaic word for my1: mine eyes, mine host

Etymology: Old English mīn; compare Old High German, Old Norse mīn, Dutch mijn

mine / maɪn/ noun

1. a system of excavations made for the extraction of minerals, esp coal, ores, or precious stones
2. any deposit of ore or minerals
3. a lucrative source or abundant supply: she was a mine of information
4. a device containing an explosive designed to destroy ships, vehicles, or personnel, usually laid beneath the ground or in water
5. a tunnel or sap dug to undermine a fortification

verb

1. to dig into (the earth) for (minerals)
2. to make (a hole, tunnel, etc) by digging or boring
3. (transitive) to make diligent use of (a resource)
4. to place explosive mines in position below the surface of (the sea or land)
5. to undermine (a fortification) by digging mines or saps
6. (transitive) to monitor and legitimize transactions in (a cryptocurrency) with the aim of being awarded new units
7. another word for undermine

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, probably of Celtic origin; compare Irish mein, Welsh mwyn ore, mine