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Synonyms

treasure

American  
[trezh-er] / ˈtrɛʒ ər /

noun

  1. wealth or riches stored or accumulated, especially in the form of precious metals, money, jewels, or plate.

    Synonyms:
    hoard

  2. wealth, rich materials, or valuable things.

  3. any thing or person greatly valued or highly prized.

    This book was his chief treasure.

verb (used with object)

treasured, treasuring

  1. to retain carefully or keep in store, as in the mind.

  2. to regard or treat as precious; cherish.

    Synonyms:
    esteem, value

  3. to put away for security or future use, as money.

    Synonyms:
    hoard
treasure British  
/ ˈtrɛʒə /

noun

  1. wealth and riches, usually hoarded, esp in the form of money, precious metals, or gems

  2. a thing or person that is highly prized or valued

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to prize highly as valuable, rare, or costly

  2. to store up and save; hoard

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • treasurable adjective
  • treasureless adjective
  • untreasurable adjective
  • untreasured adjective

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” ( thesaurus ); verb derivative of the noun

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.

The China suit was brought by Li’s second wife and widow, who in the U.S. case likewise argued the documents had been stolen and were Chinese national treasures.

From The Wall Street Journal

In exchange for garbage dump treasures, Clare provided the rat with mushrooms, freshly chopped and packed from his garden.

From Literature

Following the trail of these minuscule treasures back in time, Mr. de Waal traced the history of his forbears among the Ephrussis, a Jewish banking family that grew prosperous in the 19th century.

From The Wall Street Journal

An area described as "one of the most treasured in southern England" may be given enhancements worth £1m.

From BBC

Comedian Alan Carr has almost achieved national treasure status since winning Celebrity Traitors last year - but it's his recent purchase of a Scottish castle that he has described as his most exciting project "for ages".

From BBC

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.