Definition

1. Noun:

   • A defensive tunnel or mine: In military contexts, a tunnel dug by defenders to intercept and destroy an enemy's tunnel or mine before it reaches its target.
   • A counterplot or countermeasure: A plan or action designed to thwart an opponent's scheme or strategy.

2. Verb:

   • To destroy enemy mines with one's own mines: To use explosives or defensive mining to neutralize an enemy's underground explosive devices.
   • To sabotage or hinder operations: To deliberately destroy or obstruct the normal functioning of something, often as an act of resistance or warfare.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The engineers dug a countermine to intercept the enemy's tunnel before it could reach the fortress wall.
  • His clever countermine exposed the spy's plot before any damage was done.

• Verb:

  • To protect the harbor, the navy worked to countermine the enemy's underwater explosives.
  • The partisans attempted to countermine the enemy's logistical efforts by blowing up the railway bridge.

Advanced Usage

• "To lay a countermine": To prepare a defensive mine or a strategic countermeasure.

  • The general ordered his troops to lay a countermine against the anticipated attack.

• "A psychological countermine": A metaphorical plan to undermine an opponent's psychological strategy. The diplomat's speech was a brilliant psychological countermine to the propaganda campaign.

Variants and Related Words

• Countermining (n/gerund): The act or process of laying countermines or engaging in counter-sabotage.

  • The countermining operations successfully protected the city's perimeter.

• Countermeasure (n): An action taken to offset another action. (This is a broader, more general synonym).

  • The new software update is a countermeasure against the latest viruses.

Synonyms

• Noun: Counterplot, countermeasure, defensive mine.
• Verb: Sabotage, undermine, thwart, neutralize.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Countermine" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms specifically using the word "countermine." Its usage is primarily technical or strategic.)

Noun

1. (military) a tunnel dug to defeat similar activities by the enemy

Verb

1. destroy enemy mines with one's own mines
   • We countermined the banks of the river
2. destroy property or hinder normal operations
   • The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war