mine

modif.

mine

n.

1. A source of natural wealth

   pit, well, shaft, diggings, excavation, adit, workings, works, quarry, deposit, vein, lode, dike, ore bed, placer, matrix, pay dirt*, pay streak*, bonanza*; see also tunnel.

   Types of mines, sense 1, include: placer, surface, open pit, dredging, open cut, strip; quartz, coal, iron, copper, silver, gold, diamond, underhand stope, bottom stope, overhand stope, top stope, rill stope, opencast stope, shrinkage stope.

2. An explosive charge

   landmine, ambush, trap; see bomb, explosive, weapon 1.

   Types of mines, sense 2, include: smart, floating, anchor, ratchet, magnetic, aerial, antipersonnel, castrator*, Bouncing Betty*, Leaping Lena*; S-mine, Teller (German), claymore, countermine, delayed action mine, time bomb, booby trap.

mine

v.

1. To dig for minerals

   excavate, burrow, pan, stope, drill, work, quarry, wash for gold; see also dig 1.

2. To lay mines

   sow with mines, prepare mine fields, set booby traps; see defend 1.