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| mine [ mīn ] |
noun (plural mines) |
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| Definition: |
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1. hole in ground for extracting minerals: an excavated area from which minerals, often in the form of ore, are extracted
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2. mineral-excavating business: the industrial and commercial buildings, machinery, and personnel used to work a mine
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3. mineral deposit: an area underground or at ground level where there is a deposit of ore, minerals, or precious stones
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4. source: a rich source of something, especially information
  a mine of information
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5. hidden explosive: an explosive device concealed underground or underwater that detonates on contact with a person, vehicle, or ship
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6. military tunnel under enemy territory: a tunnel dug under enemy territory in order to gain entry, undermine fortifications, or lay explosives
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7. zoology insect burrow: a tunnel made by a burrowing insect or larva, especially in a plant leaf
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verb (past and past participle mined, present participle min·ing, 3rd person present singular mines) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb remove minerals: to extract minerals from the ground
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2. transitive verb lay mines in ground or water: to place explosive mines throughout an area of ground or water
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3. transitive verb construct tunnel: to dig a tunnel underground
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4. transitive verb make use of resource: to make use of a particular resource
Generations of scholars mined these archives.
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| [14th century. Directly or via Old French< assumed Vulgar Latin mina] |
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| min·a·ble adjective |
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