English Reference
pronoun · noun · verb · determiner

mine

pron. · n. · v. · det.
US /ˈmaɪn/ UK /mˈaɪn/ mine UK spelling Mines

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    pron.the thing or things that belong to you.

    pron.the first-person singular possessive pronoun, used to replace a noun phrase indicating ownership by the speaker.

    Simple

    You have your coffee and I have mine.

    In context

    The responsibility for the final decision was entirely mine, though I had consulted several experts beforehand.

    Pitfall
    This is the mine book. This is my book. / This book is mine.

    Use 'my' before a noun; use 'mine' when the noun is not repeated.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Science

    n.a deep hole or tunnel in the ground where people take out coal, gold, or other minerals.

    n.an excavation in the earth for extracting coal, ores, or other precious minerals.

    Simple

    The workers spent all day underground in the coal mine.

    In context

    The abandoned silver mine became a significant safety hazard for the local community after the structural supports began to fail.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Military

    n.a bomb placed under the ground or in the water that explodes when something touches it.

    n.a stationary explosive device designed to be detonated by the proximity or contact of a person, vehicle, or ship.

    Simple

    The soldiers had to be careful because the field was full of mines.

    In context

    Naval forces were deployed to clear the shipping lanes of underwater mines left behind after the conflict ended.

    landmineexplosive
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a place or person that provides a lot of useful information or wealth.

    n.an abundant source of something valuable, such as information or resources.

    Simple

    My grandfather is a mine of information about the history of our town.

    In context

    The archives proved to be a mine of data for the researchers, offering insights that had been overlooked for decades.

  5. 05 B1 Intermediate Science

    v.to dig deep into the ground to find minerals like coal or gold.

    v.to extract ore or minerals from the earth; can be used transitively or intransitively.

    Simple

    They have been mining for gold in these mountains for centuries.

    In context

    The company plans to mine the region for lithium, citing the growing global demand for battery components.

    extractquarryexcavate
  6. 06 B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    v.to search through a lot of information to find something useful.

    v.to systematically search or analyze a large body of information to extract valuable data.

    Simple

    The company mines customer data to find out what people like to buy.

    In context

    Social media platforms often mine user interactions to refine their advertising algorithms and increase engagement.

  7. 07 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    v.to use powerful computers to create new units of digital money like Bitcoin.

    v.to perform the computational work required to verify transactions and earn new units of a cryptocurrency.

    Simple

    He uses a special computer in his basement to mine Bitcoin.

    In context

    The environmental impact of mining cryptocurrency has become a major concern due to the immense electricity consumption required for the process.

  8. 08 C1 Advanced Literary

    v.to slowly destroy or weaken something, often in a secret way.

    v.to weaken or ruin by slow degrees or secret means; often used as 'undermine'.

    Simple

    Constant criticism began to mine her confidence in her own work.

    In context

    The scandal served to mine the public's trust in the institution, eventually leading to a total collapse of authority.

  9. 09 C2 Proficiency ArchaicLiterary

    det.an old-fashioned way of saying 'my', used before words starting with a vowel.

    det.an archaic first-person singular possessive determiner used before a vowel sound.

    Simple

    The old poem began with the words, 'Mine eyes have seen the glory'.

    In context

    In the King James Bible, the phrase 'mine eyes' is frequently employed where modern English would use 'my eyes'.

    my
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated