miner

[ mahy-ner ]

noun

1. Also called mineworker. a person who works in a mine, especially a commercial mine producing coal or metallic ores:

   His ancestors were slate miners in Wales who emigrated to the United States.

2. a mechanical device used in mining:

   She made her money by developing a miner for extracting ores from the ocean floor.

3. any of several Australian birds of the genus Manorina, feeding on honey and typically having a loud call.
4. Entomology. any of various insect larvae that create tunnels in the parenchyma of leaves.
5. Digital Technology.
   1. a computer or network of computers engaged in solving sets of mathematical problems that are used to verify cryptocurrency transactions and that, when solved, yield a unit of the currency.
   2. a software application that is designed to run this process.
   3. a person or company that engages in this process.
6. (formerly) a person who places or lays explosive mines.

miner

/ ˈmaɪnə /

noun

1. a person who works in a mine
2. Also calledcontinuous miner a large machine for the automatic extraction of minerals, esp coal, from a mine
3. any of various insects or insect larvae that bore into and feed on plant tissues See also leaf miner
4. any of several honey-eaters of the genus Manorina, esp M. melanocephala (noisy miner), of scrub regions See noisy miner

Word History and Origins

Origin of miner¹

First recorded in 1225–75; mine ² + -er ¹; replacing Middle English minour, from Anglo-French ( -or ² )

Example Sentences

A former miner who is among those missing out on extra pension payments is calling for the government to address the "injustice".

From BBC

The archetypal American miner nowadays is from Appalachia — Trump rallied with them in West Virginia.

From Los Angeles Times

Sharry White, who owns a local restaurant called Granny Jacks that serves cabbage rolls — an old coal miner favorite — is also voting for Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

In mining country, a coal miner was like a decorated GI.

From Salon

Meanwhile, another Australian miner, Covalent Lithium, is building its own lithium refinery, also in Western Australia.

From BBC

Related Words

• prospector