El Dorado

American  

[el duh-rah-doh, -rey-, el daw-rah-thaw, el duh-rey-doh] / ˌɛl dəˈrɑ doʊ, -ˈreɪ-, ɛl dɔˈrɑ ðɔ, ˌɛl dəˈreɪ doʊ /

noun

1. a legendary treasure city of South America, sought by the early Spanish explorers.

2. any place offering great wealth.

3. a city in S Arkansas.

4. a town in S Kansas.

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El Dorado British  

/ ɛl dɒˈrɑːdəʊ, ɛl doˈraðo /

noun

1. a fabled city in South America, rich in treasure and sought by Spanish explorers in the 16th century

2. Also: eldorado.  any place of great riches or fabulous opportunity

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El Dorado Cultural  

1. A place of fabulous wealth, or an opportunity to obtain it. During the gold rush many adventurers believed that California would be their El Dorado. The name comes from the name of a legendary South American city of stupendous riches sought by Spanish conquistadores.

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Etymology

Origin of El Dorado

C16: from Spanish, literally: the gilded (place)

Example Sentences

The most wary and experienced were eager for a share in the hoped for el dorado, and Abraham was the greediest of any.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 54, No. 337, November, 1843 by Various

Thus wave after wave is rolling westward—the real el dorado is still farther on.

From A New Guide for Emigrants to the West by Peck, John Mason

They gazed clandestinely into the heavenly el dorado of the interior, and eaten up with envy, they poured out their spite upon the heads of the philosophers who were listening in the open air.

From The Marquis of Pe?alta (Marta y Mar?a) A Realistic Social Novel by Palacio Vald?s, Armando

That is always like the discovery of el dorado.

From Child and Country A Book of the Younger Generation by Comfort, Will Levington