noun
minelayer
MYN-lay-er
Minelayer (noun) means a minelayer is a ship built to lay naval mines in the water. Example: “The navy sent a minelayer to seed the strait with mines overnight.”
noun
1
A minelayer is a ship built to lay naval mines in the water.
"The navy sent a minelayer to seed the strait with mines overnight."
"A minelayer must carry and release its mines without setting them off."
"The old minelayer was later converted for other duties once the war ended."
Examples of minelayer in a sentence →
How to use minelayer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA minelayer is a ship or device whose job is to place mines in the water or ground.
When to use it
Minelayer is a specialist military and naval term.
Memory tip
Keep minelayer and minesweeper apart: one places mines, the other removes them.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
naval minelayer
lay mines from a minelayer
minelayer ship
minelayer fleet
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The navy sent a _____ to seed the strait with mines overnight.
Etymology
The word is simply a combination of mine and layer, describing something that lays mines.
Antonyms
minesweeper
minehunter
Related words
Rhymes for minelayer
See all rhymes for minelayer →Frequently asked questions
What is a minelayer?
A minelayer is a ship, vehicle or device used to place explosive mines, and the term is most often used for ships that lay naval mines.
What is the opposite of a minelayer?
The opposite is a minesweeper or minehunter, which finds and clears mines rather than laying them.
Is a minelayer always a ship?
Not always: the word can refer to any vehicle, device or person that lays mines, though it is most commonly used for a ship built for that purpose.
What is the meaning of minelayer?
"minelayer" (noun) means a minelayer is a ship built to lay naval mines in the water.
