bonanza
/bou'nænzə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money): A large amount of something valuable or profitable that is discovered or obtained unexpectedly. 2. An especially rich vein of precious ore: In mining, a large and rich deposit of a valuable mineral, especially gold or silver.
Usage
The word "bonanza" describes a source of great wealth or a period of exceptional prosperity that arrives suddenly or is discovered. It is often used in business, finance, and general contexts to describe a windfall or a highly profitable situation.
Examples
As a source of sudden good fortune:
- The discovery of oil on their land was a financial bonanza for the family.
- The new tax law created a bonanza for real estate investors.
- The smartphone app became a bonanza, earning its creator millions.
As a rich mineral deposit (literal mining context):
- Prospectors rushed to the area after hearing rumors of a silver bonanza.
- The bonanza in the Comstock Lode made many people wealthy overnight.
Advanced Usage
- "Bonanza" can be used attributively (like an adjective) before a noun to describe something that yields great wealth or abundance.
- The company reported bonanza profits this quarter.
- It was a bonanza year for the tech industry.
Variants and Related Words
- Bonanza does not have common verb or adjective forms. It is primarily used as a noun.
- Related Concept: Boom (n.): A period of rapid economic growth or prosperity, often used similarly to "bonanza" but implying sustained activity rather than a single discovery.
- The post-war economic boom created many jobs.
Synonyms
- Windfall: An unexpected gain, often financial.
- Gold mine: A source of great wealth or valuable information (literal and figurative).
- Jackpot: The biggest prize in a game of chance; a huge success.
- Eldorado/El Dorado: A place of great wealth or opportunity (from legend).
Antonyms
- Bust: A period of economic decline or failure.
- Drought: A period of shortage or lack, especially of something desirable.
- Bane: A cause of great distress or annoyance.
Idioms and Phrases
- Strike a bonanza: To discover or achieve a source of great wealth or success.
- The startup struck a bonanza with its innovative design.
- Bonanza crop/yield: An exceptionally large harvest.
- The perfect weather led to a bonanza crop of wheat.
Noun
- a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)
- the demand for testing has created a boom for those unregulated laboratories where boxes of specimen jars are processed like an assembly line
- an especially rich vein of precious ore