Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • A pass, 2,176 m (7,135 ft) high, in the Sierra Nevada of eastern California near Lake Tahoe. It is named after the Donner Party of westward migrants whose survivors resorted to cannibalism after being trapped in a snowstorm near here in October 1846.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a mountain pass in northeastern California near Lake Tahoe; site where in 1844 some members of an emigrant party survived by eating those who had died

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Showers and thunderstorms are likely at the higher elevations, such as Donner Pass, through Friday night, with chances decreasing over the weekend.

    The Union - All Categories 2009

  • On a sunny spring day, we strided and poled three or four miles to the Peter Grubb Hut at the base of Castle Peak, not far from Donner Pass.

    Dan Imhoff: Deep Ecology Champion Arne Naess Passes 2009

  • If you have any travel plans that will take you on the freeway going from Sacramento back up through the mountains near Donner Pass, you could have some issues.

    CNN Transcript Nov 28, 2009 2009

  • Well, one Amtrak is still stranded right now in the Sierra Mountains near Donner Pass.

    CNN Transcript Feb 2, 2008 2008

  • I hate driving in any amount of snow, but snow over Donner Pass can close I-80.

    Archive 2008-11-01 Susan Palwick 2008

  • Then, too, humans periodically face the types of decisions as did the pioneers at Donner Pass [1] -- a walk in the park in some ways compared to the Leningrad events in that there was no deliberate murder involved.

    On Rejecting "The System" 2008

  • I should also note that I now live most of the time an hour or so from Donner Pass.

    "Two Amtrak trains carrying 400 people got stuck in the mountains of Northern California near Donner Pass..." Ann Althouse 2008

  • But let's go back to California for a few moments, Donner Pass, Donner Summit.

    CNN Transcript Feb 2, 2008 2008

  • I hate driving in any amount of snow, but snow over Donner Pass can close I-80.

    Road Trip Susan Palwick 2008

  • I drove Donner Pass one winter when it was chain-up weather; I wouldn't do it again if I had the choice.

    No Go Susan Palwick 2008

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