mine

[ mahyn ]

/ maɪn /

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See synonyms for mine on Thesaurus.com

pronoun

a form of the possessive case of I used as a predicate adjective: The yellow sweater is mine.

something that belongs to me: Mine is the red car.

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of mine

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 ]

/ maɪn /

noun

an excavation made in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, precious stones, etc.

a place where such minerals may be obtained, either by excavation or by washing the soil.

a natural deposit of such minerals.

an abundant source; store: a mine of information.

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.

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

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.

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

verb (used without object), mined, min·ing.

to dig in the earth for the purpose of extracting ores, coal, etc.; make a mine.

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

to make subterranean passages.

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

verb (used with object), mined, min·ing.

to dig in (earth, rock, etc.) in order to obtain ores, coal, etc.

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

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

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

to make subterranean passages in or under; burrow.

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

to dig away or remove the foundations of.

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

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

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

OTHER WORDS FOR mine

4 supply, stock, fund, hoard.

See synonyms for mine on Thesaurus.com

Origin of mine

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 FROM mine

un·mined, adjective

Other definitions for mine (3 of 3)

Min.E.

abbreviation

Mineral Engineer.

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

How to use mine in a sentence

The State Department found that with high oil prices, the tar sands would be mined for oil, pipeline or no.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The only catch—he never mined a thing and the tunnel led to a scenic ledge.
The Mole Man’s Tunnel to Nowhere|Nina Strochlic|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Redditors had complained that the thing they found and promoted had been co-opted and mined for clicks by other sites.
There Are More 'Too Many Cooks' Where That First Fever Dream Came From|Kevin Fallon|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Griffin mined the portfolios of four artists to create the vast collection of images that dot the book.
A YA Novel About a Warhol Girl With Banksy Talent|Hugh Ryan|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

We wanted to understand first-hand what it was really like for struggling families to live in this mined-out coal town.
Filming a Beautiful Town in Decay: ‘Rich Hill’ and the Elusive American Dream|Tracy Droz Tragos|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The first coal to be mined in the United States was located near Richmond in 1745.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
Shipbuilding, net and rope-making, and woollen manufacturing are other industries, and coal is mined in the vicinity.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2|Various
Salt was at first obtained by the evaporation of sea-water, but was afterwards mined.
The Private Life of the Romans|Harold Whetstone Johnston
They mined the vein, sorting out the ore from the waste and saving every particle.
Space Prison|Tom Godwin
Bauxite or aluminum ore is mined in France, and 60 per cent.
A Journey Through France in War Time|Joseph G. Butler, Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for mine (1 of 2)

mine¹

/ (maɪn) /

pronoun

something or someone belonging to or associated with memine is best

of mine belonging to or associated with me

determiner

(preceding a vowel) an archaic word for my 1 mine eyes; mine host

Word Origin for mine

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

British Dictionary definitions for mine (2 of 2)

mine²

/ (maɪn) /

noun

a system of excavations made for the extraction of minerals, esp coal, ores, or precious stones

any deposit of ore or minerals

a lucrative source or abundant supplyshe was a mine of information

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

a tunnel or sap dug to undermine a fortification

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

verb

to dig into (the earth) for (minerals)

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

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

to undermine (a fortification) by digging mines or saps

another word for undermine

Derived forms of mine

minable or mineable, adjective

Word Origin for mine

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

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 ]

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with mine

mine

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

mine

Origin of mine

Other definitions for mine (2 of 3)

OTHER WORDS FOR mine

Origin of mine

OTHER WORDS FROM mine

Other definitions for mine (3 of 3)

Words related to mine

How to use mine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mine (1 of 2)

Word Origin for mine

British Dictionary definitions for mine (2 of 2)

Derived forms of mine

Word Origin for mine

Scientific definitions for mine

Other Idioms and Phrases with mine