mother lode
Americannoun
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Mining. a rich or important lode.
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a major or profitable source or supply.
New York City is a mother lode of actors.
noun
Etymology
Origin of mother lode
First recorded in 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly—the local version of a city council—saw a mother lode of opportunity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
“Grey’s Anatomy,” renewed for a 21st season on ABC, has 430 episodes, making it a binge-viewing mother lode.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2024
But it could be a mother lode for small and large local news outlets, providing $500 million a year to preserve and grow local newsrooms.
From Seattle Times ● May 15, 2024
The mother lode of winter storms has sent water blasting through rock crevices and rivers in the Sierra Nevada, leading to more glittering discoveries by prospectors.
From New York Times ● Apr. 22, 2023
First they ripped out the boards that covered the ancient fireplace, coming upon the rusty bricks like prospectors upon the mother lode.
From "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
