mining

word · lemma: mine

/ˈmaɪnɪŋ/
MY-ning
/mˈaɪnɪŋ/
MY-ning

Definition

The process of extracting minerals, metals, or other valuable materials from the earth. It can also refer to getting digital currencies like Bitcoin using computers.

Usage & Nuances

Usually refers to extracting metal or coal from the ground ('coal mining', 'gold mining'), but also commonly used in the context of 'cryptocurrency mining'. In tech, 'data mining' is different—it means analyzing large data sets for patterns.

Example Sentences

Mining is important for getting materials like iron and gold.

basic

The town grew because of coal mining.

basic

He works in the mining industry.

basic

Mining has changed a lot with new technology.

natural

There's a lot of debate about the impact of mining on the environment.

natural

He's interested in cryptocurrency mining these days.

natural