mining

MY-ning/ˈmaɪnɪŋ/

5 meanings of mining

Practice

1
ore diggingnoununcountable
Digging valuable materials like coal, gold, or metal out of the ground.
Like digging deep into the ground to bring out hidden treasure.
Coal mining gave the whole town its jobs for a hundred years.
Gold mining can harm the rivers and forests nearby.
UsageOften after what is dug out: coal mining, gold mining.
Similarextraction, excavation
2
taking valuenounfigurativelyuncountable
The act of digging useful things out of something, or slowly wearing it down.
Like quietly taking apart something piece by piece until little is left.
The mining of old letters gave the writer plenty of story ideas.
Her careful mining of old newspapers turned up her family's story.
UsageOften used with of or for: the mining of old letters, mining for clues.
Similarharvesting, exploitation, undermining
Note
3
digital coinsnoununcountable
Making new digital coins by using computers to solve difficult puzzles and check and record transactions.
Like earning a new coin by solving a hard puzzle that also checks other people's payments.
Bitcoin mining uses huge amounts of electricity around the world.
He built a special computer just for mining in his garage.
UsageOften after the coin's name: bitcoin mining.
Note
4
verb
Present participle of mine. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, as in they are mining copper.
They are mining for copper deep in the hills.
The crew is mining the lower tunnels this week.
UsageThe verb needs no of: mining coal.

Less common meaning

5
laying bombsnoununcountable
Putting explosive devices called mines on or under the ground or in water to harm an enemy.
Like hiding traps in the ground so that anyone who steps there sets them off.
The mining of the harbor kept enemy ships out for weeks.
Heavy mining along the coast made any landing very risky.
UsageOften the mining of a place: the mining of a harbor.
Note

mining is a form of mine

mine, verb: To dig in the ground to get coal, metal, or stones. Full entry

Forms: minemines he/she/itmining -ing formmined past tense, past participle
Spelling: mine → mining: drop the e, add -ing

Practice

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