To hoard means to collect and hide away large amounts of something, keeping it all for yourself instead of using it or sharing it. A squirrel hoards acorns for winter, burying them in dozens of secret spots. Someone who hoards might fill their closets with unused toys, stack newspapers until they reach the ceiling, or keep every candy wrapper they've ever touched.

Hoarding is different from collecting. A collector organizes baseball cards or seashells and enjoys displaying them. A hoarder accumulates things compulsively, often letting them pile up in messy heaps. The word usually suggests keeping more than you need in a way that seems excessive or unreasonable.

During emergencies, people sometimes hoard supplies like bottled water or batteries, buying far more than necessary and leaving store shelves empty for others. Dragons in medieval legends were famous for hoarding treasure in their caves, guarding every gold coin jealously.

The things someone hoards are called a hoard (as a noun). Archaeologists might discover a hoard of ancient Roman coins buried underground. Unlike a collection meant to be appreciated or used, a hoard sits hidden away, doing no one any good.