treasure
Americannoun
-
wealth or riches stored or accumulated, especially in the form of precious metals, money, jewels, or plate.
- Synonyms:
- hoard
-
wealth, rich materials, or valuable things.
-
any thing or person greatly valued or highly prized.
This book was his chief treasure.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
wealth and riches, usually hoarded, esp in the form of money, precious metals, or gems
-
a thing or person that is highly prized or valued
verb
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to prize highly as valuable, rare, or costly
-
to store up and save; hoard
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has treasuredperfect 3rd person singular
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have treasuredperfect
-
am treasuringprogressive 1st person singular
-
has been treasuringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
have been treasuringperfect progressive
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are treasuringprogressive
-
is treasuringprogressive 3rd person singular
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treasuressingular 3rd person
-
treasuringparticiple
Past
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had treasuredperfect
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were treasuringprogressive plural
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was treasuringprogressive singular
-
had been treasuringperfect progressive
-
treasuredparticiple
-
treasuredsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of treasure
First recorded in 1125–75; (for the noun) Middle English tresor, from Old French, from Gallo-Romance trēsaurus (unrecorded), from Latin thēsaurus “storehouse, hoard” ( see thesaurus); verb derivative of the noun
Explanation
Treasure is usually associated with riches — gold, jewels, doubloons — the stuff contained in pirates' treasure chests. However, you can also treasure things with purely sentimental value — like your pet rock or your blankie. The English word treasure comes from the Old French tresor, both meaning "something of great worth." Still, the French tresor sounds so much more luxurious than the English treasure, and that form is the chosen name for an expensive perfume. Worth is relative, though. Going back further, we find that the Latin word for treasury is thesaurus, which is what a book of synonyms is called. Guess the ancients always understood the richness — and worth — of words.
Vocabulary lists containing treasure
Words Every Pirate Should Know
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Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A three-time Tony-winner already, Lane doesn’t need another trophy to assure him that he’s an American theatrical treasure.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
"We are continuing the investigation to find the last bracelet," he said, adding: "And we are grateful that we will be able to return this treasure to the Romanian people."
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
While not exactly treasure, multinationals receive licensing revenues from their subsidiaries in other countries as part of tax optimisation strategies.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
“It is a place where people have got to know us not as famous people but as neighbors, friends, parents. I really treasure our friendships here because they have substance,” Steenburgen added.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
Booth’s diary, money, keys, compass, small knife, and tobacco would be taken to Stanton as treasure and evidence.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
