demine

transitive verb

de·​mine (ˌ)dē-ˈmīn How to pronounce demine (audio)
variants or de-mine
demined or de-mined; demining or de-mining; demines or de-mines
: to remove mines and especially unexploded land mines from (an area)
An estimated 100 million unexploded land mines stud the globe, and experts say it would take 10,000 years to demine Cambodia alone, using present methods.Adam Marcus, Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 1998
In Afghanistan, sergeant Murphy needs to take care to ride only in areas that have been de-mined. "I am basically riding on a paved road through a minefield," he says.Christine Mattheis, Bicycling, July 2008
demining noun
or de-mining
EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] units also will be available again for humanitarian demining, irregular warfare, civil support for handling unexploded ordnance found in communities and working with foreign militaries. Michael Peck, Air Force Times, 20 May 2013
  • often used before another noun
    demining operations
    de-mining equipment

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of demine was in 1945

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Dictionary Entries Near demine

Cite this Entry

“Demine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demine. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

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