Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A desert valley: "Death Valley" is a specific desert valley located in eastern California and southwestern Nevada, USA. It is part of the larger Mojave Desert.
   • A geographical feature: It is notable for being one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places in North America.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Death Valley is famous for its extreme summer temperatures.
  • We drove through Death Valley on our road trip across the American Southwest.
  • The lowest point in North America is located in Death Valley.

Advanced Usage

• "Death Valley" as a metaphor: Sometimes used informally to describe a place, situation, or period that is extremely bleak, barren, or difficult.
  • After the company's main product failed, the sales department went through a real Death Valley for several quarters. (Note: This is a figurative, non-standard use.)

Variants and Related Words

• Death Valley National Park (n): The U.S. National Park that encompasses and protects much of the Death Valley region.
  • Death Valley National Park is a popular destination for geologists and tourists seeking dramatic landscapes.

Synonyms

• Arid basin: A dry, low-lying area.
• Desert valley: A valley in a desert region.

Related Phrases

• "Out in Death Valley": An informal phrase meaning in a very remote, isolated, or harsh location.
  • Their new research station feels like it's out in Death Valley; it's so isolated.

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The term almost exclusively refers to the specific geographical location in the USA. It is a proper name.
• Figurative Meaning: Any figurative use derives directly from the harsh characteristics (heat, dryness, barrenness) of the actual place.

Noun

1. a desert area that is part of the Mojave Desert in eastern California and southwestern Nevada; contains the lowest point in North America