What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Precious vs Treasure - What's the difference?

precious | treasure |

As nouns the difference between precious and treasure

is that precious is someone (or something) who is loved; a darling while treasure is a collection of valuable things; accumulated wealth; a stock of money, jewels, etc.

As an adjective precious

is of high value or worth, or seemingly regarded as such.

As an adverb precious

is Used as an intensifier.

As a proper noun Precious

is {{surname|from=nicknames|lang=en}}, originating as a male or female nickname.

As a verb treasure is

to consider to be precious.

precious

English

Alternative forms

* pretious (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of high value or worth, or seemingly regarded as such.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-16, author=(Polly Toynbee)
  • , volume=189, issue=10, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Britain's booming birthrate , passage=People are a good thing, the most precious resource in a rich economy, so the progressive-minded feel. Only misanthropists disagree or the dottier Malthusians who send green-ink tweets deploring any state assistance for child-rearing.}}
  • Regarded with love or tenderness.
  • (pejorative) Treated with too much reverence.
  • (pejorative) Contrived to be cute or charming.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=May 24, author=Nathan Rabin, work=The Onion AV Club
  • , title= Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3 , passage=In the abstract, Stuhlbarg’s twinkly-eyed sidekick suggests Joe Pesci in Lethal Weapon 2 by way of late-period Robin Williams with an alien twist, but Stuhlbarg makes a character that easily could have come across as precious into a surprisingly palatable, even charming man.}}

    Synonyms

    * (of high value) dear, valuable * (contrived to charm) saccharine, syrupy, twee

    Noun

    (es)
  • Someone (or something) who is loved; a darling.
  • * J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
  • “It isn't fair, my precious , is it, to ask us what it's got in its nassty little pocketses?”
  • * 1909 , Mrs. Teignmouth Shore, The Pride of the Graftons (page 57)
  • She sat down with the dogs in her lap. "I won't neglect you for any one, will I, my preciouses ?"

    Adverb

    (-)
  • There is precious little we can do.

    treasure

    English

    Alternative forms

    * treasuer (chiefly archaic)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) A collection of valuable things; accumulated wealth; a stock of money, jewels, etc.
  • * 1883 , (Robert Louis Stevenson), (Treasure Island) Chapter 20
  • "Now," resumed Silver, "here it is. You give us the chart to get the treasure' by, and drop shooting poor seamen and stoving of their heads in while asleep. You do that, and we'll offer you a choice. Either you come aboard along of us, once the ' treasure shipped, and then I'll give you my affy-davy, upon my word of honour, to clap you somewhere safe ashore.
  • (countable) Anything greatly valued.
  • * Bible, Exodus xix. 5
  • Ye shall be peculiar treasure unto me.
  • * 1681 , (Nahum Tate), (The History of King Lear)
  • I found the whole to answer your Account of it, a Heap of Jewels, unstrung and unpolisht; yet so dazling in their Disorder, that I soon perceiv'd I had seiz'd a Treasure .
  • * 1946 , (Ernest Tubb), Filipino Baby
  • She's my Filipino baby she's my treasure and my pet
    Her teeth are bright and pearly and her hair is black as jet
  • (countable)
  • * 1922 , (Francis Rufus Bellamy), A Flash of Gold
  • "Hello, Treasure ," he said without turning round. For a second she hesitated, standing in the soft light of the lamp, the deep blue of the rug making a background for her, the black fur collar of her coat framing the vivid beauty of her face.

    Verb

    (treasur)
  • (of a person or thing) To consider to be precious.
  • Oh, this ring is beautiful! I’ll treasure it forever.
  • * 19th century , (Eliza Cook),
  • I LOVE it, I love it ; and who shall dare
    To chide me for loving that old Arm-chair ?
    I've treasured it long as a sainted prize ;
    I've bedewed it with tears, and embalmed it with sighs.
  • To store or stow in a safe place.
  • * 1825 , (Walter Scott),
  • The rose-buds, withered as they were, were still treasured under his cuirass, and nearest to his heart.

    Derived terms

    * buried treasure * intreasure * national treasure * treasure chest * treasure flower * treasure house * treasure hunt * treasure map * treasure ship * treasure trove * treasurable * treasurer * treasuress * treasureless * treasurelike * treasury * untreasure

    Anagrams

    *