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Synonyms

tailings

British  
/ ˈteɪlɪŋz /

plural noun

  1. waste left over after certain processes, such as from an ore-crushing plant or in milling grain

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Miles and miles of refineries and their stinking tailings ponds, adjacent to beach resorts that run on desalination plants.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

They examined levels of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead, metals linked to iron oxides, which are the primary component of the tailings.

From Science Daily • Feb. 17, 2026

The tailings dam at a Sino Metals copper mine failed in Feb.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

"The tailings release and breach was promptly brought under control within hours of detection," the firm said in a statement on 3 September.

From BBC • Sep. 16, 2025

Within a few seconds, he reaches down into the tailings and squeals out, “Turquoise!”

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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