mother lode

Definition of mother lodenext
as in gold mine
an abundant source the university has long been a mother lode of athletic talent, with many alumni joining the rarefied ranks of the professionals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mother lode Game shows have always been about making a deal, but this was the mother lode! — Lindsay Soll, EW.com, 25 July 2025 And in another kind of desert, the Tatacoa in Colombia, two bare-bones museums hold a mother lode of 10 million-year-old fossils for study. — Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Mar. 2025 Considering how much Italy is growing in terms of national branding, accessing the mother lode of tourism could be a great opportunity for foreign investors interested in Italy. — Andrea Pietrini, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 There are nearly 1,600 types of beans alone in this mother lode called The Exchange, each with its own story of human connection. — Margaret Roach, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mother lode
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mother lode
Noun
  • Its purpose was to serve the silver and gold mines of the San Juan Mountains, but almost immediately the road also began to attract tourists.
    — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • At the heart of the property sits Ruinas del Mar, a seafood restaurant designed to look like a replica of Aruba's Bushiribana gold mine ruins.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The building's sunlit foyer is a treasure trove of vintage rugs, antique furniture, and shelves lined with museum-worthy collectibles.
    — Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The planned auction of a treasure trove of Oasis live recordings this weekend has been definitely (not maybe) suspended.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The hoarder’s house functions as the deferred dream, the repository of all frustration.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • At the federal level, officials and Congress are continuing to search for locations that could serve as interim storage sites for spent nuclear fuel until a permanent repository can be built.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mother lode.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mother%20lode. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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