minefield
/ˈmaɪnˌfild/ noun
Forms minefields mine field
- noun An area in which land mines or naval mines have been laid.
- noun (figuratively, by extension) A matter or situation presenting multiple risks, dangers, complications or difficulties. “Be careful. Foreign property investments are a minefield, and some people have lost a lot of money.”
- noun (cricket) A pitch that has dried out and crumbled and on which the ball is bouncing and spinning unpredictably.
- noun A quiz that terminates when the test-taker answers a question incorrectly.
Synonyms
Etymology
From mine + field. Compare Saterland Frisian Mienenfäield (“minefield”), West Frisian mynfjild (“minefield”), Dutch mijnenveld (“minefield”), German Low German Minenfeld (“minefield”), German Minenfeld (“minefield”), Danish minefelt (“minefield”), Swedish minfält (“minefield”).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “minefield”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details