Mining Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms mining American [mahy-ning] / ˈmaɪ nɪŋ /

noun

1. the act, process, or industry of extracting ores, coal, etc., from mines.

2. the laying of explosive mines.

3. Digital Technology. the act or process by which cryptocurrency transactions, especially bitcoin, are verified and new cryptocurrency is generated: computer networks are used to solve sets of mathematical problems, that, when solved, yield a unit of that currency.

mining British / ˈmaɪnɪŋ /

noun

1. the act, process, or industry of extracting coal, ores, etc, from the earth

2. military the process of laying mines

"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

Etymology

Origin of mining

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: “undermining (walls in an attack)”; mine 2 + -ing 1

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.

A run-up in gold, silver and copper prices stalled, weighing on global mining shares.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Danish government, which has a longstanding defense agreement with the U.S., has said the U.S. could base more troops in Greenland and obtain new and improved mining rights.

From The Wall Street Journal

When it went before the council in March 2025 councillors voted against a recommendation to refuse the application for the site off the Rhydycar West roundabout, which was previously mining areas for coal and ironstone.

From BBC

Skeptics have noted that American companies already have mining and other economic rights on Greenland that they haven’t been able to realize.

From The Wall Street Journal

And after striking gold by mining one relationship experience, how has he found fresh inspiration to re-enter the songwriting scene?

From BBC

Related Words

• drilling

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.