hoard
B2Formal, but also common in news/journalism and everyday descriptive language.
Definition
Meaning
A secret store or stockpile of valuable items or money.
To accumulate and store away (valuable items or resources) in large quantities, often secretly or excessively. Can also refer to a specific instance or collection of such stored items.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries strong connotations of excess, secrecy, and often implies a selfish or irrational motivation. Contrasts with a simple 'collection' which is neutral or positive. The verb often implies the action is ongoing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in definition or usage. Both follow the same spelling conventions.
Connotations
Identical negative/pejorative connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British media due to common usage in contexts like 'toilet roll hoard' or 'fuel hoard' during shortages.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] hoard [Object] (in/under/beneath [Location])[Subject] have/keep/discover a hoard (of [Object])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Squirrel away (similar meaning, less negative)”
- “A dragon's hoard (metaphorical for a large, greedily guarded collection)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes companies holding excessive cash reserves instead of investing (e.g., 'The corporation was criticized for hoarding liquidity').
Academic
Used in archaeology (e.g., 'Viking hoard'), economics (behavioral studies on scarcity), and psychology (hoarding disorder).
Everyday
Common during supply crises (e.g., 'People began to hoard canned goods before the storm').
Technical
Clinical term in psychology/psychiatry for 'hoarding disorder' (DSM-5).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- During the fuel crisis, some drivers tried to hoard petrol in jerry cans.
- The old miser would hoard every penny he earned.
American English
- Fearing shortages, people began to hoard bottled water and paper goods.
- Squirrels hoard nuts for the winter.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form.
American English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'Hoarding' is the related adjective (e.g., 'hoarding behaviour').
American English
- N/A - 'Hoarding' is the related adjective (e.g., 'a hoarding instinct').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother hoards old newspapers.
- Archaeologists discovered a hoard of Roman coins in the field.
- The company was accused of hoarding its patents to stifle competition.
- The psychological profile of the compulsive hoarder often includes extreme anxiety about discarding items.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HOARDing board covered in posters, but instead of posters, it's secretly covered in piles of gold coins.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE IS A (SECRET/HIDDEN) MASS. GREED IS A DRAGON GUARDING ITS TREASURE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'board' (доска). В русском прямого эквивалента нет. 'Запасаться' или 'делать запасы' ближе к нейтральному 'stockpile'. 'Припрятывать' или 'копить (жадно)' передаёт негативный оттенок 'hoard'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'hoard' (a collection) with 'horde' (a large group of people). Incorrect: 'A hoard of fans waited.' Correct: 'A horde of fans waited.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'hoard' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Hoard' refers to a stored collection of items. 'Horde' refers to a large, often unruly, group of people (e.g., a horde of shoppers). They are homophones.
In modern usage, it almost always carries a negative connotation of excess and selfishness, except in neutral contexts like archaeology ('a Bronze Age hoard') or animal behavior ('squirrels hoard nuts').
Yes, but the implied object is usually clear from context (e.g., 'When he gets anxious, he starts to hoard.' implies hoarding items, money, or food).
The noun is 'hoarder' (e.g., 'a compulsive hoarder').
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