treasure
TREH-zhuh
Treasure (noun) means a valuable collection of money, jewels, or other precious things. Example: “The children drew a map showing where the pirates had buried their treasure.”
noun
1
A valuable collection of money, jewels, or other precious things.
"The children drew a map showing where the pirates had buried their treasure."
"Legend says a hidden treasure lies somewhere beneath the old castle."
"Divers found a sunken treasure off the coast of Florida."
2
Anyone or anything considered extremely valuable or precious.
"Our neighbour is a real treasure, always ready to help with the garden."
"That old photograph is a family treasure we will never sell."
"Her grandmother's letters are her most treasured possession."
verb
1
To value something very highly.
"I will always treasure the book my teacher gave me as a leaving gift."
"They treasure their quiet Sunday mornings together more than anything."
"He treasures the time he spends with his grandchildren."
How to use treasure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTreasure is either literal wealth (gold, jewels) or, as a verb, valuing something deeply.
Common pairings
buried treasure
treasure hunt
treasure a memory
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Word forms
- Plural
- treasures
- Third person singular
- treasures
- Past tense
- treasured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children drew a map showing where the pirates had buried their _____.
Etymology
From Old French tresor, ultimately from Greek thēsaurós, "treasure house" — the same root gives us "thesaurus."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for treasure
See all rhymes for treasure →Frequently asked questions
What does “treasure” mean?
The word “treasure” means a valuable collection of money, jewels, or other precious things. In plain terms, treasure is either literal wealth (gold, jewels) or, as a verb, valuing something deeply.
How do you pronounce “treasure”?
“Treasure” is pronounced TREH-zhuh (/ˈtɹɛʒɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “treasure” in a sentence?
Here is “treasure” used in a sentence: “Divers found a sunken treasure off the coast of Florida.”
What part of speech is “treasure”?
Depending on how it is used, “treasure” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “treasure” come from?
The word “treasure” comes from Old French. From Old French tresor, ultimately from Greek thēsaurós, "treasure house" — the same root gives us "thesaurus.".
Is “treasure” a common word?
“Treasure” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “treasure” have?
“Treasure” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a valuable collection of money, jewels, or other precious things.
What is the difference between "treasure" and "treasury"?
"Treasure" refers to valuable objects such as money, jewels, or other precious things, while a "treasury" is the place or department where funds are stored and managed, as in a government treasury. One is the wealth itself; the other is where it is kept.
What is the difference between "treasure" and "fortune"?
A "treasure" is usually a collection of precious physical objects, often hidden or discovered, while a "fortune" is a large amount of wealth or money that someone possesses. You dig up buried treasure but inherit a fortune.
Is "treasure" countable or uncountable?
"Treasure" is usually uncountable, as in "a chest of treasure" or "buried treasure," but it can be countable when referring to individual precious items, as in "the museum's greatest treasures."
What are common collocations with "treasure"?
Common phrases include "buried treasure," "treasure hunt," "treasure trove," and "national treasure" for a much-loved person or thing. These pairings reflect both the literal and the figurative senses of the word.
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