n. & v.
n. 1 a precious metals or gems. b a hoard of these. c accumulated wealth. 2 a thing valued for its rarity, workmanship, associations, etc. (art treasures). 3 colloq. a much loved or highly valued person.
v.tr. 1 (often foll. by up) store up as valuable. 2 value (esp. a long-kept possession) highly. treasure hunt 1 a search for treasure. 2 a game in which players seek a hidden object from a series of clues. treasure trove Law treasure of unknown ownership found hidden.
[ ME f. OF tresor, ult. f. Gk thesauros: see THESAURUS ]