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

• argosy
• cornucopia
• gold mine
• mine
• mother lode
• wellspring

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

In the clip, Haley found a treasure trove of eggs beneath a couch, and, at Kotb's encouragement, split the loot with her sister, giving her two eggs to open. —Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024

Explore Bologna’s Historic Sites Photo: Getty Images As the capital of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna is a treasure trove of historic and cultural sites, not to mention the world’s oldest university. —Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024

Its test flight launched this morning flew farther than either of SpaceX’s first two attempts, promising a treasure trove of new data. —William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024

Target has an advertising division (it’s called Roundel) and Walmart’s Walmart Connect marketing division is targeting $6 billion in revenue by 2026, hoping to leverage Vizio’s smart TV OS and its treasure trove of data to bolster its business. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024

Ian Porter stumbled upon the ancient treasure trove while using a metal detector to search a field in Anglesey in March 2020, the Amgueddfa Cymru — Museum Wales said in a Feb. 28 news release shared with McClatchy News. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024

No two rooms here are the same, making the charming hotel a treasure trove of original rare artworks and antique furnishings. —Anna Haines, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

And inside that cellphone was also a treasure trove of evidence. —Natalie Morales, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2024

Yolo County waste officials are aiming to turn other people’s trash into a do-it-yourself treasure trove with their new Big Blue Recycling Barn Thrift Store at the county dump. —Marjorie Kirk, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French tresor trové, literally, found treasure

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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.