Phrase guide

mother lode

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A large or rich vein of gold or of another precious mineral from which other branches extend.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any source of valuable or useful material.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the main vein of ore in a deposit

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: champion lode

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lode, load

History

Etymology

Probably a calque of Spanish veta madre (“mother lode”).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: hoofdader — large or rich vein of precious mineral
  • Finnish: emosuoni — large or rich vein of precious mineral
  • French: filon principal — large or rich vein of precious mineral
  • German: Hauptader — large or rich vein of precious mineral
  • Polish: złoże — large or rich vein of precious mineral
  • Polish: kopalnia — large or rich vein of precious mineral
  • Polish: żyła — large or rich vein of precious mineral
  • Spanish: veta madre — large or rich vein of precious mineral