Word
prospector
Phoneticsprospec·tor
US/ˈpɹɔˌspɛktɝ/
UK/pɹəspˈɛktɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who searches in nature for gold, silver, or other valuable metals and minerals. You often see this word in stories about the old gold rush.
n. a person who explores land in search of mineral deposits, especially gold or silver. Often associated with small-scale mining and historical gold rushes.
Examples
“The prospector searches the river for gold.”
“The young prospector spends months in the mountains testing soil samples for traces of copper.”
“Disillusioned by city life, the aging prospector returns to the hills each spring, convinced that one rich vein will justify decades of hardship.”
Examples
simple
“The prospector searches the river for gold.”
contextual
“The young prospector spends months in the mountains testing soil samples for traces of copper.”
complex
“Disillusioned by city life, the aging prospector returns to the hills each spring, convinced that one rich vein will justify decades of hardship.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “prospector” in context.
Verb
01. attract prospector
“The 1849 gold rush attracted thousands of prospectors to California.”
verb + noun
02. hire prospector
“The mining company hired prospectors to survey the remote valley.”
verb + noun
03. lure prospector
“Rumours of silver lured prospectors deep into the desert mountains.”
verb + noun
04. prospector discovers
“The prospector discovered a rich vein of silver in the canyon.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. amateur prospector
“The amateur prospector bought a metal detector before heading into the hills.”
adj + noun
06. grizzled prospector
“The grizzled prospector shared stories of the Klondike gold rush with visitors.”
adj + noun
07. lone prospector
“A lone prospector built a cabin near the river and panned for gold daily.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. band of prospector
“A band of prospectors set up camp along the Yukon River.”
noun + prep + noun
09. influx of prospector
“The influx of prospectors transformed the quiet village into a boomtown.”
noun + prep + noun
10. party of prospector
“A party of prospectors crossed the pass before winter arrived.”
noun + prep + noun
11. a band of prospectors
“A band of prospectors wintered together in a log cabin.”
12. lure prospectors to the frontier
“News of gold lured prospectors to the wild frontier in droves.”
Real-World Examples
“On August 16, 1896, three men discovered gold nuggets in the river while camping and fishing near Rabbit Creek in the Klondike River territory: American prospector George Carmack, and two Tagish people, Keish (Skookum Jim), who was Carmack’s brother-in-law, and Káa Goox (Dawson Charlie).” “Prospectors and geologists who make a career searching for diamond deposits tend to come up dry.” “As a third-generation prospector, he was raised amid the sparkling streams of California’s Gold Country, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, getting to know its watery veins as well as the life lines of his own hands.” “There were already at least 4,000 gold prospectors in California, he reported.” Etymology
From prospect + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/prospector