treasure trove

noun

1

: treasure that anyone finds

specifically : gold or silver in the form of money, plate, or bullion which is found hidden and whose ownership is not known

2

: a valuable discovery, resource, or collection

Synonyms of treasure trove

• gold mine
• repository
• mother lode
• mine

Examples of treasure trove in a Sentence

Divers found a treasure trove of gold and silver in the wreckage of a ship that sank hundreds of years ago.

the ancient city, having been almost perfectly preserved under volcanic ash for nearly 2,000 years, is proving to be a treasure trove of archaeological information

Recent Examples on the Web

The Clark Art Institute, a treasure trove of Western art, opened in the scenic Berkshire Mountains in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1955. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 July 2026

Vintage shops and thrift stores can be treasure troves for all sorts of odds and ends to fill any space of the house—especially because vintage decor is having a major moment right now. — Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026

Trader Joe’s is always a treasure trove of desserts—from ice cream treats to mini sheet cakes. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026

Vintage jeans are a treasure trove of inspiration for modern denim creators. — Footwear News, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French tresor trové, literally, found treasure

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for treasure trove

• alcove
• mangrove
• cove
• drove
• rove
• shrove
• stove
• strove
• throve
• wove

Kids Definition

treasure trove

noun

-ˌtrōv

1

: treasure of unknown ownership found buried or hidden

2

: a valuable discovery

Legal Definition

treasure trove

noun

-ˈtrōv

: treasure that anyone finds

specifically : gold or silver in the form of money, plate, or bullion that is found hidden and whose ownership is not known

Note: State law determines who is entitled to a treasure trove.