treasure
gb/tɹˈɛʒɚ/ us/tɹˈɛʒɚ/
B1
English
~ 7000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
valuable objects like gold and jewelry
A collection of very valuable things such as gold, money, or jewelry.
Usage pattern:
[someone] finds [treasure]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'treasure' to mean any 'expensive thing', even when talking about a single object (e.g., saying *'This car is a treasure'* when they just mean it costs a lot). In stories and common use, this sense usually refers to a collection of valuable items like gold, jewels, or coins, not just one normal expensive object.
Synonyms
riches (Suggests a large amount of wealth or valuable things, often in a dramatic or story-like way, similar to pirate treasure.)
Antonyms
junk (Refers to old or broken things that are not valuable, the opposite of valuable treasure.)
Collocations
hidden treasure
|buried treasure
|treasure chest
|pirate treasure
|hunt for treasure
|hoard of treasure
Themes
money
|history
|adventure
|finance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The pirates buried their treasure on a remote island.
- Archaeologists discovered a treasure of gold coins under the old temple.
- The museum keeps its most precious treasure in a secure room.
- Legend says there is hidden treasure somewhere in these mountains.
- They opened the treasure chest and gasped at the glittering jewels inside.
Learner examples
- The children pretended to look for treasure on the beach.
- We saw old treasure in the castle museum.
- In the story, a boy finds a box of treasure.
- The king kept his treasure in a big room.
- The map shows where the treasure is.
Verb
B2
action
2
value something or someone deeply
To feel that a person, thing, or time is very special and important, and to value it a lot.
Usage pattern:
[someone] treasures [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes put 'very' between the verb and object, saying *'I treasure very our friendship'* instead of 'I treasure our friendship very much.' Another mistake is using 'treasure' only for expensive things; in this sense it is mostly emotional and is often used with people, memories, and experiences.
Synonyms
cherish (Very close in meaning; slightly more common than 'treasure' and can sound a bit softer or more romantic.)
Antonyms
disregard (Means to pay little or no attention to something or someone, the opposite of valuing and protecting them.)
Collocations
treasure someone
|treasure something
|treasure every moment
|treasure memories
|truly treasure
|deeply treasure
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I will always treasure the time we spent together.
- She treasures her grandmother’s letters and keeps them in a special box.
- He truly treasures their friendship and calls her every week.
- You should treasure your health while you have it.
- They treasure the memories of their first home.
Learner examples
- I treasure my family very much.
- She treasures this photo because it was the last one with her father.
- We treasure our time with the children.
- He treasures his old guitar from high school.
- I will treasure this gift forever.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
3
very helpful or lovable person
A person who is very kind, helpful, or easy to love, and is very important to you.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a (real) treasure
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use is always romantic, but it is often friendly or family-style praise. Also, some learners say *'He is treasure'* without an article; in this sense English normally uses 'a': 'He is a treasure.'
Synonyms
gem (Informal; often used similarly for a person who is especially kind or good, with a slightly playful tone.)
Antonyms
nuisance (Someone who causes trouble or annoyance, opposite of a person who is valued and helpful.)
Collocations
a real treasure
|a little treasure
|you’re a treasure
|what a treasure
|an absolute treasure
Themes
relationships
|daily life
|emotions
|daily_life
Examples
- Thanks for looking after the kids at such short notice; you’re an absolute treasure.
- He cooks, cleans, and never complains—what a treasure.
- Grandpa is a real treasure to the whole family.
- Our new neighbor is a treasure; she helped everyone during the storm.
- You’ve been such a treasure while I’ve been sick.
Learner examples
- You are a real treasure to me.
- My aunt is a treasure; she always helps us.
- Their new babysitter is a treasure.
- He is a treasure because he is so kind.
- Our teacher is a treasure; she cares about every student.
Noun
B2
entity
4
something extremely valuable or useful
Something that is very special, useful, or important, not just because it costs a lot of money.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a treasure for [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'treasure' must always be about money or gold. In this sense, it can be any thing, place, or resource that is very important or useful, even if it is not expensive.
Synonyms
asset (Often used in business or formal contexts for something or someone that is very useful or valuable.)
Antonyms
burden (Something that causes difficulty or trouble rather than giving value or help.)
Collocations
a treasure of information
|a treasure of knowledge
|a cultural treasure
|a family treasure
|a rare treasure
Themes
culture
|education
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- This book is a treasure of practical advice for new parents.
- The old photos are a real treasure for the whole family.
- The library is a treasure of knowledge for the community.
- The park is a green treasure in the middle of the city.
- For language learners, a good dictionary is a treasure.
Learner examples
- This website is a treasure for students.
- Our garden is a treasure in summer.
- The film is a treasure for music lovers.
- Her notebook is a treasure of ideas.
- These letters are a treasure for our family.
Noun
B2
entity
5
culturally or nationally valued person or place
A person, place, or thing that a country or group thinks is very special and important for its culture or history.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is a national treasure
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes translate directly and say *'public treasure'* or *'people’s treasure'* when they mean 'national treasure'. In English, 'national treasure' is the fixed and common phrase.
Synonyms
icon (Often used for a famous person or thing that strongly represents a culture or time period.)
Antonyms
eyesore (Used for a building or object that people think is ugly and want to remove, the opposite of a protected treasure.)
Collocations
a national treasure
|a cultural treasure
|a historic treasure
|world treasure
|protect a national treasure
Themes
culture
|history
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many people consider the singer a national treasure.
- The ancient temple is a cultural treasure that must be protected.
- This painting is a national treasure and is kept under tight security.
- The castle is one of the country’s greatest historic treasures.
- He has become a national treasure thanks to his work for charity.
Learner examples
- The old bridge is a national treasure.
- This famous writer is a treasure of our culture.
- The building is a historic treasure for the city.
- She is a national treasure because of her art.
- The forest is a natural treasure of the country.
Grammar
Dictionary form
treasure
IPA
GB/tɹˈɛʒɚ/
US/tɹˈɛʒɚ/
Syllables & stress
treas - ure (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (treas)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: treasure
- Plural: treasure, treasures
Verb
- Base: treasure
- 3rd Person Singular: treasures
- Present Participle: treasuring
- Past: treasured
Word family
Expressions
a treasure trove of
1/ə tɹˈɛʒɚ tɹˈoʊv əv/
fixed phrase
very rich source of something
A phrase used to say there is a very large amount of something valuable or useful.
Examples
- The guidebook is a treasure trove of local tips.
- Her notes are a treasure trove of ideas for the project.
- The museum is a treasure trove of modern art.
buried treasure
1/bˈɛɹid tɹˈɛʒɚ/
fixed phrase
treasure hidden under the ground
Gold, money, or other valuable things that someone has put under the ground to hide.
Examples
- Stories say there is buried treasure on this island.
- The old map showed the place where the buried treasure might be.
- They dreamed of finding buried treasure on the beach.
hidden treasure
1/hˈɪdən tɹˈɛʒɚ/
fixed phrase
treasure that is kept secret
Treasure that someone has hidden so that other people cannot easily see or find it.
Examples
- They searched the caves for hidden treasure.
- The attic was full of hidden treasure from her childhood.
- The old village has many hidden treasures if you take time to explore it.
national treasure
1/nˈæʃnəl tɹˈɛʒɚ/
fixed phrase
highly valued cultural person or thing
A person, place, or thing that many people in a country think is very special and important for their culture or history.
Examples
- The actor is often called a national treasure because everyone loves him.
- The palace is a national treasure and is carefully protected.
- She became a national treasure after winning medals for her country.
one man's trash is another man's treasure
1/wˈʌn mˈænz tɹˈæʃ ˈɪz ənˈʌðɚ mˈænz tɹˈɛʒɚ/
idiom
different people value things differently
What one person thinks is not useful or nice, another person may think is very useful or special.
Examples
- I love buying clothes in second-hand shops—one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
- He collects old radios that other people throw away; one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
- Don’t laugh at her collection; remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
treasure every moment
1/tɹˈɛʒɚ ˈɛvɹi mˈoʊmənt/
fixed phrase
value each moment deeply
To enjoy and value each moment of an experience very much, especially because it will not last.
Examples
- Treasure every moment with your children; they grow up so fast.
- On our trip, we tried to treasure every moment together.
- You should treasure every moment of your time abroad.
treasure the memory of
1/tɹˈɛʒɚ ðə mˈɛmɚi əv/
fixed phrase
value a memory with deep affection
To remember someone or something with great love and care, and feel that the memory is very special.
Examples
- She will always treasure the memory of her first teacher.
- We treasure the memory of our holiday by the sea.
- He treasures the memory of his grandparents, who raised him.
treasure trove
1/tɹˈɛʒɚ tɹˈoʊv/
fixed phrase
large collection of valuable things
A large number of very valuable or useful things, often all found in one place.
Examples
- The attic turned out to be a treasure trove of old comics.
- This website is a treasure trove of language-learning resources.
- The archive is a treasure trove for historians.
treasure chest
1/tɹˈɛʒɚ t͡ʃˈɛst/
fixed phrase
box for keeping treasure
A large strong box, often with a lock, used for keeping money, gold, or other valuable things.
Examples
- They found an ancient treasure chest buried on the island.
- The pirates carried a heavy treasure chest onto the ship.
- The treasure chest was full of gold coins.
- She keeps her childhood toys in an old wooden treasure chest in the attic.
- In the game, you win coins every time you open a treasure chest.
treasure hunt
1/tɹˈɛʒɚ hˈʌnt/
fixed phrase
game of searching for hidden things
A game or event where people look for hidden things or follow clues to find a prize.
Examples
- The children played a treasure hunt in the garden at the birthday party.
- We organized a treasure hunt around the city for the new students.
- At Easter they do a treasure hunt, hiding small gifts all over the house.
treasure hunt
2/tɹˈɛʒɚ hˈʌnt/
fixed phrase
Game of finding hidden items with clues
A game where you follow clues to find hidden things.
Examples
- The kids enjoyed the treasure hunt at the party.
- We planned a treasure hunt around the park.