noun
Klondike
KLON-dyk
Klondike (noun) means a source of sudden or unexpected wealth, from the Klondike gold rush. Example: “The oil discovery turned the sleepy town into a klondike overnight.”
noun
1
A source of sudden or unexpected wealth, from the Klondike gold rush.
"The most exclusive luxury brands are seeking their share of the klondike."
— Natasha Singer, Not Down and Out in Moscow (2007)
"The oil discovery turned the sleepy town into a klondike overnight."
2
A solitaire card game in which cards are sorted by rank from a shuffled deck.
"She played a round of klondike to pass the time on the flight."
How to use Klondike
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a windfall of riches (from the historic gold rush) or a classic solitaire card game named after it.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Klondikes
- Third person singular
- klondikes
- Past tense
- klondiked
Fill the gap
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The oil discovery turned the sleepy town into a _____ overnight.
Etymology
Named after the Klondike River region in Yukon, Canada, site of a famous 1890s gold rush. The river's name comes from a local Indigenous word roughly meaning "hammerstone water."
Rhymes for Klondike
See all rhymes for Klondike →Frequently asked questions
What does “Klondike” mean?
The word “Klondike” means a source of sudden or unexpected wealth, from the Klondike gold rush. In plain terms, either a windfall of riches (from the historic gold rush) or a classic solitaire card game named after it.
How do you pronounce “Klondike”?
“Klondike” is pronounced KLON-dyk (/ˈklɒnˌdaɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Klondike” in a sentence?
Here is “Klondike” used in a sentence: “The oil discovery turned the sleepy town into a klondike overnight.”
What part of speech is “Klondike”?
“Klondike” is a noun.
Where does the word “Klondike” come from?
The word “Klondike” dates back to around 1890. Named after the Klondike River region in Yukon, Canada, site of a famous 1890s gold rush. The river's name comes from a local Indigenous word roughly meaning "hammerstone water.".
How many meanings does “Klondike” have?
“Klondike” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a source of sudden or unexpected wealth, from the Klondike gold rush.
