# lode

/ˈɫoʊd/ (US) · /lˈəʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lode
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a vein of metal ore

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a layer of metal ore, like gold or silver, found inside a crack in a rock.

For teachers: a vein of metallic ore that fills a fissure in a rock formation or lies within definite boundaries.

- The miners followed the lode of silver deep into the mountain.
- Geologists determined that the mother lode extended vertically for several hundred metres, promising decades of productive extraction for the mining firm.

### 2. a rich source

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a large supply of something very useful or valuable.

For teachers: a rich or abundant source of supply, often used figuratively.

- The old library was a lode of information for the young researcher.
- The recently discovered correspondence proved to be a lode of historical insight, revealing the private motivations behind the public treaty.

### 3. a watercourse

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · British English

a small channel or stream used for water.

For teachers: a watercourse or an artificial channel used for drainage, particularly in fenlands.

- The farmers cleared the lode to make sure the fields didn't flood.
- The ancient lodes of East Anglia remain vital to the region's drainage system, directing excess rainfall away from the low-lying agricultural plains.

## Examples

- The miners discovered a rich lode of silver deep in the mountain.
- After months of drilling, the geologists finally identified a primary lode that could support a new mining operation.
- The discovery of a massive gold lode in the late nineteenth century triggered a massive influx of prospectors, transforming the remote valley into a bustling industrial hub overnight.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.