noun
Common
mining
MEYE-nihng
Mining (noun) means the industry or process of extracting minerals, ores, or other resources from the earth. Example: “Coal mining once employed thousands of people in the region.”
noun
1
The industry or process of extracting minerals, ores, or other resources from the earth.
"Coal mining once employed thousands of people in the region."
"Gold mining changed the landscape of many valleys in that area."
"Mining is dangerous work, so strict safety rules apply underground."
2
The process of earning cryptocurrency by validating transactions through computation.
"Cryptocurrency mining uses a huge amount of electricity."
"He bought powerful computers to start mining digital coins at home."
"Some countries are discussing rules to limit mining because of its energy use."
How to use mining
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDigging valuable materials out of the ground, or, in tech, generating cryptocurrency through computing power.
Common pairings
coal mining
data mining
bitcoin mining
mining industry
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Word forms
- Plural
- minings
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Coal _____ once employed thousands of people in the region.
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Rhymes for mining
See all rhymes for mining →Frequently asked questions
What does “mining” mean?
The word “mining” means the industry or process of extracting minerals, ores, or other resources from the earth. In plain terms, digging valuable materials out of the ground, or, in tech, generating cryptocurrency through computing power.
How do you pronounce “mining”?
“Mining” is pronounced MEYE-nihng (/ˈmaɪnɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mining” in a sentence?
Here is “mining” used in a sentence: “Coal mining once employed thousands of people in the region.”
What part of speech is “mining”?
“Mining” is a noun.
Is “mining” a common word?
“Mining” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mining” have?
“Mining” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the industry or process of extracting minerals, ores, or other resources from the earth.
What are the main types of mining?
The two broad methods are surface mining and underground mining. Surface mining includes open-pit, strip, and quarry operations, where material near the top is removed. Underground mining reaches deeper deposits through tunnels and shafts. Other forms include placer mining for riverbed minerals and in-situ methods that dissolve ore in place.
What is the difference between mining and quarrying?
Quarrying is really a type of surface mining, but the terms are often distinguished by what is extracted. Quarrying usually refers to digging out building materials such as stone, slate, sand, and gravel from open pits. "Mining" more often describes extracting metal ores, coal, and minerals, including from deep underground.
Why is mining important?
Mining supplies the raw materials modern life depends on — metals for construction and electronics, coal and minerals for energy, and the lithium and copper behind batteries and wiring. Almost every manufactured product traces back to something mined. It is economically vital, though it also carries significant environmental and safety challenges.
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