Hoard

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hoard

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

hawd  /hɔːd/

Definition

As a noun: a secret store or accumulation of something valuable, particularly money, food, or treasure, kept hidden away; a large hidden collection. As a verb: to accumulate and hide away a large store of something, especially secretly and beyond current needs; to gather and keep without sharing.

Plain meaning

A hoard is a hidden store of valuable things — gold, food, supplies, or anything kept in secret reserve. To hoard means to accumulate and hide such a store, especially beyond what you need and without sharing it with others.

Register

Neutral to mildly negative. Hoard as a noun is neutral in archaeological and historical contexts (a Roman coin hoard), but mildly negative in everyday use (hoarding food, hoarding toilet paper). As a verb, to hoard implies excess and selfishness. The clinical term hoarding disorder is neutral.