treasure

• treasuer (chiefly archaic)

From Old French tresor (“treasury”), from Latin thēsaurus (“treasure”), from Ancient Greek θησαυρός (thēsaurós, “treasure house”). Displaced native Middle English schat.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɹɛʒɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɹɛʒə/
• Hyphenation: treas‧ure

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɛʒə(ɹ)

treasure (countable and uncountable, plural treasures)

1. (uncountable) A collection of valuable things; accumulated wealth; a stock of money, jewels, etc.
   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 20, in Treasure Island:

     "Now," resumed Silver, "here it is. You give us the chart to get the treasure by, and drop shooting poor seamen and stoving of their heads in while asleep. You do that, and we'll offer you a choice. Either you come aboard along of us, once the treasure shipped, and then I'll give you my affy-davy, upon my word of honour, to clap you somewhere safe ashore.

2. (countable) Anything greatly valued.
   • Bible, Exodus xix. 5

     Ye shall be peculiar treasure unto me.

   • 1681, Nahum Tate, The History of King Lear

     I found the whole to answer your Account of it, a Heap of Jewels, unstrung and unpolisht; yet so dazling in their Disorder, that I soon perceiv'd I had seiz'd a Treasure.

   • 1946, Ernest Tubb, Filipino Baby

     She's my Filipino baby she's my treasure and my pet

     Her teeth are bright and pearly and her hair is black as jet

3. (countable) A term of endearment.
   • 1922, Francis Rufus Bellamy, A Flash of Gold

     "Hello, Treasure," he said without turning round. For a second she hesitated, standing in the soft light of the lamp, the deep blue of the rug making a background for her, the black fur collar of her coat framing the vivid beauty of her face.

• treasury

treasure (third-person singular simple present treasures, present participle treasuring, simple past and past participle treasured)

1. (transitive, of a person or thing) To consider to be precious; to value highly.

   Oh, this ring is beautiful! I’ll treasure it forever.

   • 19th century, Eliza Cook, The Old Armchair

     I LOVE it, I love it ; and who shall dare

     To chide me for loving that old Arm-chair ?

     I've treasured it long as a sainted prize ;

     I've bedewed it with tears, and embalmed it with sighs.

2. (transitive) To store or stow in a safe place.
   • 1825, Walter Scott, The Talisman

     The rose-buds, withered as they were, were still treasured under his cuirass, and nearest to his heart.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To enrich.

• (to consider to be precious): cherish

• (to consider to be precious): despise

• austerer, treasuer