Words that start with M

Mines are very large holes that people dig to get minerals out of the ground. Minerals can then be processed into useful things like metal. Mines can be underground tunnels or they can be open cut mines like in the picture. Open cut mines are more common today as they can be mined easier and more safely than underground mines, using enormous trucks and digging machinery.

You go out and mingle when you go out amongst other people and talk to them. Mingling is a great way to meet new people.

Something is miniature if it is a very small copy of something else. A miniature can either be a model of something, like a miniature car, or a word for a very small animal, such as a miniature horse.

Mint is a family of small plants with a strong taste and smell. It is used most often to make tea, jellies and sweets or candy. Most chewing gums, toothpastes and breath fresheners are mint flavoured. Fresh mint can be added to drinks, salads or as a garnish on many meals. Mint is often used in sweets, biscuits or cookies along with chocolate. The leaves of the mint are used for their flavour, either fresh or dried. The flavour is carried in oil in the leaves, and the very strongly flavoured oil can be extracted and stored for later use. Mint is an easy plant to grow. It prefers a lightly shaded spot with good, moist soil but will grow almost anywhere under almost any conditions. It grows a vigorous root system that can spread very fast. Mint is best grown in a pot so it doesn't invade the rest of the garden. You can grow new mint plants by taking a cutting of a mint runner. Just digging down a little at the edge of a clump of mint should loosen up a runner that already has roots, and can be clipped off and used to grow a new plant.

A mirror is something that lets you see your reflection. You can use a mirror so you can see yourself brushing your hair, or to see behind you when you are driving a car. Not all animals know that their reflection is them, the only animals that do know are elephants, chimpanzees, dolphins, magpies and orangutans.