magnetic mine

noun

Navy.

1. an underwater mine set off by any disturbance of its magnetic field, as by the metal hull of a ship.

magnetic mine

noun

1. a mine designed to activate when a magnetic field such as that generated by the metal of a ship's hull is detected

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnetic mine¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Honeymooners spy for the British in 1939 Germany to learn more about the Nazis’ new magnetic mine.

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A source told the news agency that the blast on Front Altair could have been a magnetic mine.

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One source said the blast on the Front Altair, which caught fire and sent a huge plume of smoke into the air, may have been caused by a magnetic mine.

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Shortly after Pompeo spoke in Washington, senior U.S. officials showed photographs to reporters of the damaged tanker Courageous with what the Navy identified as a suspected magnetic mine attached to its hull.

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One shipping broker said there had been an explosion “suspected from an outside attack” that may have involved a magnetic mine on the Kokuka.

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Related Words

• booby trap 
• mine