Word
tailing
Phoneticstail·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈteɪɫɪŋ/
UK/tˈeɪlɪŋ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the waste material that is left over after valuable metals or minerals have been removed from rocks.
n. the residue of ore that remains after the process of separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic fraction. Usually appears in the plural form when referring to mining waste.
Examples
“The company must safely store the mining tailing to protect the river.”
“Environmental groups expressed concern over the stability of the dam holding back the toxic tailing from the copper mine.”
“The catastrophic failure of the tailing storage facility resulted in a massive release of sludge that devastated the local ecosystem for decades.”
Examples
simple
“The company must safely store the mining tailing to protect the river.”
contextual
“Environmental groups expressed concern over the stability of the dam holding back the toxic tailing from the copper mine.”
complex
“The catastrophic failure of the tailing storage facility resulted in a massive release of sludge that devastated the local ecosystem for decades.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tailing” in context.
Verb
01. discharge tailing
“The factory was fined for attempting to discharge tailing into the local river.”
verb + noun
02. reprocess tailing
“New technology allows companies to reprocess tailing to extract remaining minerals.”
verb + noun
03. store tailing
“Mining companies must follow strict regulations on how they store tailing.”
verb + noun
04. tailing accumulate
“As the mining operation expanded, tailing accumulated at an alarming rate.”
noun + verb
05. tailing leak
“Inspectors are worried that the tailing might leak into the groundwater.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. mine tailing
“Large ponds were built to contain the mine tailing and prevent soil contamination.”
noun + noun
07. radioactive tailing
“The cleanup of radioactive tailing at the old uranium site will take several years.”
adj + noun
08. toxic tailing
“The environmental agency is monitoring the disposal of toxic tailing from the gold mine.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. disposal of tailing
“The safe disposal of tailing is a major challenge for the industrial sector.”
noun + prep + noun
10. tailing dam
“Engineers were called in to reinforce the tailing dam after the heavy rains.”
noun + noun
11. management of mine tailing
“The report highlights the need for better management of mine tailing in developing regions.”
12. seepage from tailing ponds
“Environmentalists expressed concern regarding seepage from tailing ponds into the ecosystem.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural ('tailings') to refer to the mass of waste material.
Real-World Examples
“Tailings typically make headlines only when the waste is abruptly released or contaminates water supplies.” “While tailings dams are meant to last for ever, extreme weather events are making many unstable – with devastating consequences for nature and” “Mining generates 13 billion tonnes per year of potentially toxic wet slurry waste, called tailings, commonly deposited in tailings storage facilities (TSF).” “For every ton of nickel produced, about 133 tons of tailings are left behind — material that’s often highly acidic, potentially toxic, and difficult to manage.” Etymology
Derived from the noun 'tail', referring to the rear or end part of something. In a technical sense, it describes the material that comes out at the end of a processing sequence. The term gained specific usage in mining and milling during the 19th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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