Definition

A place where coal is extracted from the ground, including the mine itself and the buildings associated with it.

Example

The workers at the colliery were busy extracting coal for the winter.

Conversation

Have you ever visited a colliery?

No, I haven't, but I've heard they can be quite interesting.

Yeah, I went to one last summer, and it was fascinating to see how they operate a colliery.

That sounds cool! I’d love to learn more about how coal is mined.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Coliery → It is formed from "collier" (from Old French *colier*, meaning coal miner) and the suffix "-y" (meaning a place associated with). A colliery is a place associated with coal mining or a coal mine.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'collier' as a coal miner, and the '-y' indicates a place, so a colliery is a place where coal mining happens.

Visually Confused Words