minesweeper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral, Technical
Quick answer
What does “minesweeper” mean?
A person or vehicle that clears explosive mines from an area.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or vehicle that clears explosive mines from an area.
A computer game where the player must uncover hidden 'mines' on a grid by deducing their location from numerical clues.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; spelling is consistent. The game was included with Microsoft Windows, making the term widely known in both regions.
Connotations
Identical connotations: military hardware or the classic computer game.
Frequency
Frequency is comparable, with the gaming sense likely more frequent in everyday conversation than the military sense for most speakers.
Grammar
How to Use “minesweeper” in a Sentence
The [military] deployed a minesweeper.I spent hours playing Minesweeper.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “minesweeper” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fleet will minesweep the channel before the convoy passes.
- They spent the afternoon minesweeping the coastal approach.
American English
- The navy had to minesweep the entire bay.
- He's an expert at minesweeping virtual grids.
adverb
British English
- [Not standard; no common adverbial form.]
American English
- [Not standard; no common adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- The minesweeper operation concluded successfully.
- She set a new minesweeper record.
American English
- The minesweeper crew received commendations.
- He developed a new minesweeper algorithm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of military contracts or software/game development.
Academic
Used in military history, engineering (naval), and game design studies.
Everyday
Primarily refers to the classic computer game.
Technical
Refers to naval vessels designed for mine clearance or the specific logic puzzle game algorithm.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “minesweeper”
- Incorrect spelling: 'mine sweeper' (should be closed compound). Confusing the game with other puzzle games like Sudoku.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a closed compound noun, written as one word: 'minesweeper'.
The earliest versions originated in the 1960s and 1970s, but it was popularized globally by its inclusion in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack (1990) and later in Microsoft Windows (1992 onwards).
Yes, but it is rare and highly technical/military. The verb 'to minesweep' is the more standard form for the action.
When referring specifically to the trademarked or iconic computer game, it is often capitalized ('Minesweeper'). When speaking generically about similar games, lowercase ('minesweeper') is acceptable.
A person or vehicle that clears explosive mines from an area.
Minesweeper is usually neutral, technical in register.
Minesweeper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪnswiːpə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪnswiːpər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ship SWEEPING the sea to clear MINES. For the game, imagine sweeping a grid to find hidden mines.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A HIDDEN OBJECT; PROBLEM-SOLVING IS CLEARING A FIELD.
Practice
Quiz
In common parlance, 'Minesweeper' most often refers to: