mine

1
[ mahyn ]
See synonyms for mine on Thesaurus.com
pronoun
  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.

  1. Archaic. my (used before a word beginning with a vowel or a silent h, or following a noun): mine eyes; lady mine.

Origin of mine

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mīn; cognate with Old Norse mīn, German mein, Gothic meina; see origin at my, me

Other definitions for mine (2 of 3)

mine2
[ mahyn ]

noun
  1. 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.

  1. a natural deposit of such minerals.

  2. an abundant source; store: a mine of information.

  3. 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.

  4. a similar device used on land against personnel or vehicles; landmine.

  5. 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.

  6. a passageway in the parenchyma of a leaf, made by certain insects.

verb (used without object),mined, min·ing.
  1. to dig in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, etc.; make a mine.

  2. to extract coal, ore, or the like, from a mine.

  1. to make subterranean passages.

  2. to place or lay mines, as in military or naval operations.

verb (used with object),mined, min·ing.
  1. to dig in (earth, rock, etc.) in order to obtain ores, coal, etc.

  2. to extract (ore, coal, etc.) from a mine.

  1. to avail oneself of or draw useful or valuable material from: to mine every reference book available in writing the term paper.

  2. to use, especially a natural resource: to mine the nation's forests.

  3. to make subterranean passages in or under; burrow.

  4. to make (passages, tunnels, etc.) by digging or burrowing.

  5. to dig away or remove the foundations of.

  6. to place or lay military or naval mines under: to mine an enemy supply road.

  7. Agriculture. to grow crops in (soil) over an extended time without fertilizing.

  8. to remove (a natural resource) from its source without attempting to replenish it.

Origin of mine

2
First recorded in 1275–1325; 1875–80 for def. 5; Middle English verb minen, from Old French miner (cognate with Provençal, Spanish minar, Italian minare ), from assumed Vulgar Latin mīnāre, probably from an unattested Celtic base mein-; compare Middle Irish méin, Welsh mwyn “ore, mineral”; Middle English noun from Middle French, perhaps noun derivative of miner “to mine”; compare Medieval Latin mina “mine, mineral”

Other words for mine

Other words from mine

  • un·mined, adjective

Other definitions for Min.E. (3 of 3)

Min.E.

abbreviation
  1. Mineral Engineer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for mine (1 of 2)

mine1

/ (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 my 1 mine eyes; mine host

Origin of mine

1
Old English mīn; compare Old High German, Old Norse mīn, Dutch mijn

British Dictionary definitions for mine (2 of 2)

mine2

/ (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

  1. a lucrative source or abundant supply: she was a mine of information

  2. a device containing an explosive designed to destroy ships, vehicles, or personnel, usually laid beneath the ground or in water

  3. a tunnel or sap dug to undermine a fortification

  4. a groove or tunnel made by certain insects, esp in a leaf

verb
  1. to dig into (the earth) for (minerals)

  2. to make (a hole, tunnel, etc) by digging or boring

  1. to place explosive mines in position below the surface of (the sea or land)

  2. to undermine (a fortification) by digging mines or saps

  3. another word for undermine

Origin of mine

2
C13: from Old French, probably of Celtic origin; compare Irish mein, Welsh mwyn ore, mine

Derived forms of mine

  • minable or mineable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for mine

mine

[ mīn ]


  1. An underground excavation in the Earth from which ore, rock, or minerals can be extracted.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with mine

mine

see back to the salt mines; gold mine; your guess is as good as mine.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.