treasure
n. · v.-
1 valuable objects (n.) B1 Intermediatea collection of gold, silver, jewels, or other expensive things.
a collection of precious metals, gems, or other highly valuable objects, often found or stored together.
ExampleThe divers found a chest of sunken treasure at the bottom of the ocean.
ExampleArchaeologists discovered a hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure, including intricate gold jewellery and silver coins, buried beneath the field.
-
2 a valued person or thing (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informalsomeone or something that you value very much because they are helpful or special.
a person or object regarded as particularly precious, helpful, or rare.
ExampleOur new assistant is a real treasure; she organized the whole office in one week.
ExampleTo the local community, the small independent library is a cultural treasure that must be protected from budget cuts.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 to store safely (v.) C2 Proficiency Literaryto keep something in a safe place so it is not lost or damaged.
to store or hoard something for future use or preservation.
ExampleThe memories of that summer were treasured deep in his heart.
ExampleThe ancient scrolls were treasured away in a climate-controlled vault to prevent the delicate parchment from crumbling.
Inherited from Middle English tresour, from Old French tresor (“treasury”), from Latin thēsaurus (“treasure”), from Ancient Greek θησαυρός (thēsaurós, “treasure house”). Mostly displaced native Old English goldhord (See goldhoard) and Old English ġestrēon. Doublet of thesaurus.