Hoard
/hɔrd/
nounverbB2
Definition
To hoard means to collect and keep a large amount of things, often secretly or for a long time. People hoard when they want to save items because they think they might need them later or because they do not want to share. A hoard is the collection or store of these saved things.
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See It in Action
A large hidden supply of valuable items or goods (noun)
- •The archaeologists found a hoard of ancient coins buried underground.
- •He kept a hoard of canned food in his basement for emergencies.
- •The dragon’s hoard was full of gold, jewels, and treasures.
To collect and keep a large amount of things secretly or carefully (verb)
- •During the storm warning, people hoarded water and food.
- •She hoards old letters and photographs in a box under her bed.
- •Some animals hoard food to survive the winter months.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "hoard" like "save," but saving a lot and often hiding it away, not just keeping something safe
- ✓Picture a squirrel gathering many nuts and hiding them in a secret place for winter
- ✓It's the feeling when you keep many toys or snacks because you don’t want to run out or share with others
- ✓Sounds like "horde" (a large group) → Imagine a big group of things all gathered and kept together secretly
- ✓Think of stories where a dragon keeps a hoard of gold and jewels hidden in a cave
- ✓NOT like "collect" (which can be open and for fun), "hoard" is more secret and sometimes too much
- ✓NOT like "store" (which is often organized and public), "hoard" is usually secret and messy
- ✓NOT like "save" (which can be small or for use), "hoard" means saving a lot and often not using it right away
Try Other Words
- •Stockpile: a large supply kept for future use (Use when talking about planned storage, often public or known)
- •Collect: to gather items, usually for fun or interest (Use when the gathering is open and for enjoyment)
- •Stash: to hide and keep something secret (Use when focusing on the secret hiding part)
- •Reserve: something kept for future use (Use when the item is kept for a special or planned reason)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; "hoard" is a simple root word
- •Etymology: From Old English "hord," meaning treasure or valuable store
- •Historical development: Originally meant a hidden treasure or valuable goods; later used more generally for any secret large store
- •Modern usage: Used both as a noun for a secret large collection and as a verb for the act of gathering and hiding many things, often with a negative idea of keeping too much
Reflect & Connect
•Why do people or animals feel the need to hoard things instead of using or sharing them?
•Can hoarding ever be a good habit, or is it always a problem? How do you decide?
Fill in the blanks
1.People often hoard food and water when they believe a ___ is coming soon.
2.She hoards old books because she feels they have ___ value.
3.Unlike collecting stamps openly, hoarding means keeping things ___ or hidden from others.
4.The dragon’s hoard was so large that it took many days to ___ all the treasure.
5.During the crisis, many stores ran out of supplies because people were hoarding ___ items.
6.Hoard is often used with words like "secretly," "carefully," or "excessively" to show ___ behavior.
7.When someone hoards, they usually do not ___ what they collect but keep it for a long time.