miner

[mahy-ner]

noun

1. Also called mineworker. a person who works in a mine, especially a commercial mine producing coal or metallic ores.

   His ancestors were slate miners in Wales who emigrated to the United States.

2. a mechanical device used in mining.

   She made her money by developing a miner for extracting ores from the ocean floor.

3. any of several Australian birds of the genus Manorina, feeding on honey and typically having a loud call.

4. Entomology.,  any of various insect larvae that create tunnels in the parenchyma of leaves.

5. Digital Technology.

   1. a computer or network of computers engaged in solving sets of mathematical problems that are used to verify cryptocurrency transactions and that, when solved, yield a unit of the currency.

   2. a software application that is designed to run this process.

   3. a person or company that engages in this process.

6. (formerly) a person who places or lays explosive mines.

miner

/ ˈmaɪnə /

noun

1. a person who works in a mine

2. Also called: continuous miner. a large machine for the automatic extraction of minerals, esp coal, from a mine

3. any of various insects or insect larvae that bore into and feed on plant tissues See also leaf miner

4. any of several honey-eaters of the genus Manorina, esp M. melanocephala (noisy miner), of scrub regions See noisy miner

Word History and Origins

Origin of miner¹

First recorded in 1225–75; mine ² + -er ¹; replacing Middle English minour, from Anglo-French ( -or ² )

Example Sentences

Also see: Gold and gold miners suffered a big one-day retreat.

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Rising gold prices pushed shares of Chinese gold miners higher.

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U.S. officials have pledged to accelerate permitting while acquiring stakes in several miners.

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Gold took a hit on Thursday, and shares of gold miners tumbled along with it, as some investors booked profits after the metal’s more than 50% climb so far this year.

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China’s new export restrictions on rare earth minerals and lithium-ion batteries boost shares of MP Materials and other miners.

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Related Words

• prospector