I. -zhə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English tresor, tresour, from Old French tresor, from Latin thesaurus hoard, treasure, from Greek thēsauros
1.
a.
(1) : wealth (as money, plate, jewels, or precious metals) accumulated, stored, or hoarded up
the pirate's treasure
digging for buried treasure
(2) : wealth of any kind or in any form : riches
if the treasure of the men who run the railroad is elsewhere committed — Value Line
a military victory won at unparalleled cost of blood and treasure — Henry Hazlitt
b. : a stock or store of money in reserve
2.
a. : something of great worth or value : something valued and preserved as precious
some of the richest treasures of sculpture and painting — Wilmot Harrison
regions richest in these archeological treasures — American Guide Series: Ind.
b. : a person esteemed as rare or precious : gem 2b, jewel 2b(1)
my maid is a treasure
3. : a valuable store, accumulation, or reserve supply : a collection of precious things
this immense treasure of accumulated human thought and experience — Charlton Laird
the illustrations are a treasure of charming Georgian houses — Anne Douglas
II. transitive verb
( treasured ; treasured ; treasuring -zh(ə)riŋ ; treasures )
Etymology: Middle English tresoren, tresouren, from tresor, tresour, n.
1. : to collect and store up (something of value) for preservation, security, or future use : hoard
treasure gold
2. : to store away and preserve in or as if in the memory : retain and guard from being diminished, injured, forgotten, or lost
not only did he treasure the lines of his favorite poets — Clark Wissler
he treasures every least indication that she may be softer than her sister — E.K.Brown
— sometimes used with up
treasured up those pithy bits of local speech — Willa Cather
3. : to hold or keep as precious : regard as dear and worthy of careful preservation : cherish , prize
those who treasured the New England tradition of local self-government — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
a book which will always be treasured — Herbert Read
Synonyms: see appreciate