gold mine

American  

noun

1. a mine yielding gold.

2. a source of great wealth or profit, or any desirable thing.

3. a copious source or reserve of something required.

   a gold mine of information about antiques.

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gold mine British  

noun

1. a place where gold ore is mined

2. a source of great wealth, profit, etc

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gold mine Idioms  

1. A rich, plentiful source of wealth or some other desirable thing, as in That business proved to be a gold mine, or She's a gold mine of information about the industry. [First half of 1800s]

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Other Word Forms

• gold-miner noun
• gold-mining noun

Etymology

Origin of gold mine

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75

Example Sentences

Airbnb hosts are viewing the games as a gold mine, hoping soccer fans will shell out thousands to stay near the stadium.

From Los Angeles Times

Ionic Mineral Technologies was mining the clay in Utah when it chanced upon what could be the critical mineral equivalent of a gold mine.

From The Wall Street Journal

China was once seen as a gold mine for certain films — namely, big studio movies — that could get approval from its government for release.

From Los Angeles Times

Mining operations already occur nearby, such as at the Ladolam gold mine on Lihir, where waste material is discharged into the ocean.

From Science Daily

Alzheimer’s used to be the gold mine of the drug industry before obesity treatments.

From Barron's