Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A large concrete dam on the Colorado River: The Hoover Dam is a major arch-gravity dam constructed in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. Its primary purposes are flood control, irrigation water storage, and hydroelectric power generation.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Hoover Dam is a National Historic Landmark and a major tourist attraction.
  • Electricity generated by the Hoover Dam powers millions of homes in the Southwest.
  • The construction of the Hoover Dam was a monumental engineering achievement during the Great Depression.

Advanced Usage

• "Hoover Dam" as a symbol: The dam is often cited as a symbol of American industrial might and ingenuity.
  • The project stood as a symbol of hope during a difficult economic era.

Variants and Related Words

• Boulder Dam: An earlier name for the Hoover Dam, used during its construction and for a period afterward.
• Arch-gravity dam: The specific engineering design of the Hoover Dam, which uses a curved structure and its own weight to hold back water.

Synonyms

• Dam: A barrier constructed to hold back water.
• Hydroelectric facility: A power plant that generates electricity from flowing water.

Related Phrases

• Hoover Dam Bypass: Refers to the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which was constructed to route highway traffic away from the top of the dam.
  • The Hoover Dam Bypass greatly improved traffic flow and security.

Related Concepts

• Great Depression: The severe worldwide economic depression during the 1930s when the dam was built.
• Colorado River Compact: The 1922 agreement among seven U.S. states that apportioned the river's water, making projects like the Hoover Dam necessary for management.

Noun

1. a large dam built in 1933 on the Colorado River in Nevada