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

Off-mountain Activities Vintage Shopping Ketchum has a treasure trove of vintage and second-hand shops, thanks to a culture of quiet luxury that prizes quality, taste, and frugality. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026

There’s no denying that outlets are certified treasure troves for sourcing steep discounts on designer clothes. —Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026

So, even with the sun's interference, 3I/ATLAS delivered a treasure trove of data. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026

However, the belt section is also a treasure trove for designs made of shell, fabric, beads, or chain. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 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
• clove
• 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.