copper mine
Definition
- Noun:
- A mine where copper is dug from the ground: A specific type of mine, which is an excavation in the earth for extracting ore, from which the metal copper is obtained.
Usage
- The word "copper mine" is a compound noun. It is used to refer to the physical location and facility where copper ore is extracted. It functions as a singular, countable noun.
Examples
- Noun:
- The old copper mine was closed after the ore was depleted.
- He worked in a copper mine for twenty years.
- The region's economy was historically dependent on the local copper mine.
Advanced Usage
- "to be a copper mine" (figurative): Used informally to describe something that is a very rich source of something, especially money or information.
- That old database is a copper mine for historical researchers. (This is an idiomatic extension, comparing the richness of the source to the valuable output of a literal mine.)
Variants and Related Words
- Copper mining (n): The industry or process of extracting copper from the earth.
- Copper mining has significant environmental impacts.
- Mine (n): A general excavation for extracting minerals, coal, etc.
- Copper (n): The reddish-brown metallic element (Cu) that is the target of extraction.
Synonyms
- Copper pit: A less common synonym.
- Copper excavation: A more formal term describing the site.
Related Phrases
- (To) work a copper mine: To be employed in extracting copper from such a mine.
- His grandfather used to work a copper mine in Arizona.
- (To) operate a copper mine: To manage and run the business of copper extraction.
- The company plans to operate the copper mine for another decade.
Related Idioms
- A rich seam / vein (like a copper mine): While not a fixed idiom with "copper mine," the concept is used in metaphors. A "rich seam" is a common idiom for a valuable source.
- The archives proved to be a rich seam of information for her book. (This conveys a similar figurative meaning as the advanced usage example above.)
Noun
-
a mine where copper is dug from the ground
