countermine

American  

[koun-ter-mahyn, koun-ter-mahyn, koun-ter-mahyn] / ˈkaʊn tərˌmaɪn, ˌkaʊn tərˈmaɪn, ˈkaʊn tərˌmaɪn /

noun

1. Military. a mine intended to intercept or destroy an enemy mine.

2. a counterplot.

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verb (used with object)

countermined, countermining

1. to oppose by a countermine.

verb (used without object)

countermined, countermining

1. to make a countermine.

2. Military. to intercept or destroy enemy mines.

countermine British  

noun

1. military a tunnel dug to defeat similar activities by an enemy

2. a plot to frustrate another plot

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verb

1. to frustrate by countermeasures

2. military to take measures to defeat the underground operations of (an enemy)

3. military to destroy enemy mines in (an area) with mines of one's own

Etymology

Origin of countermine

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; counter-, mine ²

Example Sentences

Called the AQS-24, the technology merges sonar with laser mine scanning and human command and control to sustain high-resolution countermine sensing and identification at speeds as fast as 18-knots.

From Fox News • Feb. 28, 2020

The growing modern mine threat is so significant, that the Navy has been fast-tracking a wide range of new countermine attack and defense strategies.

From Fox News • Feb. 28, 2020

The concept, when it comes to application, could involve newer, upgraded sonar, networking systems, new weapons and countermine technologies.

From Fox News • Jun. 3, 2019

But the clay they threw out discolored the water and revealed their project, and the garrison at once began to countermine, by cutting a trench across the line of their projected passage.

From Historic Tales, Vol. 1 (of 15) The Romance of Reality by Morris, Charles

Now, here was a nice plot to face, and countermine!

From The Castaways by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell

Related Words

• plot
• scheme
• sedition
• treason