3 COMB -minded combines with nouns to form adjectives that indicate that someone thinks a particular thing is important or cares a lot about it. □ He is seen as more business-minded than his predecessor. □ …career-minded women.
mind|er /ma I ndə r / (minders )
1 N‑COUNT A minder is a person whose job is to protect someone, especially someone famous. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A minder is the same as a childminder . [BRIT ]
mind|ful /ma I ndfʊl/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are mindful of something, you think about it and consider it when taking action. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] We must be mindful of the consequences of selfishness.
mind|ful|ness /ma I ndfʊlnəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Mindfulness is a way of training your mind to concentrate on the present, in order to feel calm and improve your mental state. □ We have started teaching mindfulness techniques to our pupils.
mind|less /ma I ndləs/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a violent action as mindless , you mean that it is done without thought and will achieve nothing. [mainly BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a plot that mixes blackmail, extortion and mindless violence.
2 ADJ If you describe a person or group as mindless , you mean that they are stupid or do not think about what they are doing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The mindless idiots are just trying to get a reaction. ● mind|less|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ I was annoyed with myself for having so mindlessly lost thirty dollars.
3 ADJ If you describe an activity as mindless , you mean that it is extremely dull. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the mindless repetitiveness of some tasks. ● mind|less|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ I spent many hours mindlessly banging a tennis ball against the wall.
mi nd-numbing ADJ If you describe an event or experience as mind-numbing , you mean that it is so bad, boring, or great in extent that you are unable to think about it clearly. □ It was another day of mind-numbing tedium. ● mind-numbingly ADV [ADV adj] □ …a mind-numbingly boring sport.
mi ndset /ma I ndset/ (mindsets ) also mind-set N‑COUNT [oft with poss, adj N ] If you refer to someone's mindset , you mean their general attitudes and the way they typically think about things. □ Flexible working was part of the mindset of the company from the start.
mine
➊ PRONOUN USE
➋ NOUN AND VERB USES
➊ mine ◆◆◆ /ma I n/ PRON Mine is the first person singular possessive pronoun. A speaker or writer uses mine to refer to something that belongs or relates to himself or herself. □ Her right hand is inches from mine. □ I'm looking for a friend of mine who lives here.
➋ mine /ma I n/ (mines , mining , mined )
1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A mine is a place where deep holes and tunnels are dug under the ground in order to obtain a mineral such as coal, diamonds, or gold. □ …coal mines.
2 VERB [usu passive] When a mineral such as coal, diamonds, or gold is mined , it is obtained from the ground by digging deep holes and tunnels. □ [be V -ed] The pit is being shut down because it no longer has enough coal that can be mined economically.
3 N‑COUNT A mine is a bomb which is hidden in the ground or in water and which explodes when people or things touch it.
4 VERB If an area of land or water is mined , mines are placed there which will explode when people or things touch them. □ [be V -ed] The approaches to the garrison have been heavily mined. [Also V n]
5 PHRASE If you say that someone is a mine of information , you mean that they know a great deal about something.
6 → see also mining
mine|field /ma I nfiːld/ (minefields )
1 N‑COUNT A minefield is an area of land or water where explosive mines have been hidden.
2 N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] If you describe a situation as a minefield , you are emphasizing that there are a lot of hidden dangers or problems, and where people need to behave with care because things could easily go wrong. [EMPHASIS ] □ The whole subject is a political minefield. [Also + of ]
min|er ◆◇◇ /ma I nə r / (miners ) N‑COUNT A miner is a person who works underground in mines in order to obtain minerals such as coal, diamonds, or gold.
min|er|al /m I nərəl/ (minerals ) N‑COUNT A mineral is a substance such as tin, salt, or sulphur that is formed naturally in rocks and in the earth. Minerals are also found in small quantities in food and drink.
mi n|er|al wa|ter (mineral waters ) N‑VAR Mineral water is water that comes out of the ground naturally and is considered healthy to drink. ● N‑COUNT A glass of mineral water can be referred to as a mineral water .
min|estro|ne /m I n I stroʊ ni/ N‑UNCOUNT Minestrone soup is a type of soup made from meat stock that contains small pieces of vegetable and pasta.
mine|sweeper /ma I nswiːpə r / (minesweepers ) also mine sweeper N‑COUNT A minesweeper is a ship that is used to clear away explosive mines in the sea.
min|gle /m I ŋg ə l/ (mingles , mingling , mingled )
1 VERB If things such as sounds, smells, or feelings mingle , they become mixed together but are usually still recognizable. □ [V ] Now the cheers and applause mingled in a single sustained roar. □ [V + with ] Foreboding mingled with his excitement.
2 VERB At a party, if you mingle with the other people there, you move around and talk to them. □ [V + with ] Go out of your way to mingle with others at the wedding. □ [V ] Guests ate and mingled. □ [V ] Alison mingled for a while and then went to where Douglas stood with John.