storehouse

storehouse — noun

1. a building or large room where goods, food, or supplies are kept until they are

1.nounB2
Definition

a building or large room where goods, food, or supplies are kept until they are needed or moved to another place

Example

The old storehouse behind the market held crates of apples and bags of rice for winter.

collocation: old storehouse / storehouse behind [place]

Eitan worked in a storehouse near the port, checking boxes of goods before shipment.

Common collocations
  • old storehouse
  • farm storehouse
  • storehouse for grain
  • storehouse behind the market
  • packed storehouse
  • roof of the storehouse
Synonyms
  • warehouse

    more common for large, modern commercial buildings where goods are stored and distributed

  • depot

    often used for vehicles, military supplies, or as a distribution point

  • storeroom

    a smaller room within a building, not a whole building

  • repository

    formal; can refer to both physical and abstract storage

Grammar Patterns

a storehouse + for + noun

storehouse + of + noun

Usage Note

Less common than 'warehouse' for modern commercial storage. Often suggests a smaller or older building used for keeping provisions or farm goods.

Common Mistakes

I work at a storehouse that ships products worldwide.
I work at a warehouse that ships products worldwide.
'Warehouse' is the usual word for a large modern commercial storage and distribution building.

2. a person, thing, or place that contains and provides a very large amount of valu

2.nounC1
Definition

a person, thing, or place that contains and provides a very large amount of valuable information, knowledge, memories, or other qualities

Example

My grandmother's old photo albums are a storehouse of memories from her travels across Asia.

pattern: a storehouse of [abstract noun: memories, knowledge, ideas]

For students of history, the archive is a storehouse of rare documents and letters from the 18th century.

Common collocations
  • storehouse of knowledge
  • storehouse of memories
  • storehouse of information
  • storehouse of ideas
  • storehouse of recipes
  • storehouse of wisdom
Synonyms
  • treasure trove

    suggests a lucky or surprising discovery of something valuable

  • goldmine

    informal; emphasises that the source is rich and useful

  • repository

    more formal; suggests a place where things are kept for safe-keeping

Antonyms
  • void

    suggests a complete absence of valuable content

Grammar Patterns

a storehouse of + noun (information, knowledge, memories, ideas)

Usage Note

Nearly always used in the pattern 'a storehouse of + abstract noun' (knowledge, memories, information, ideas, wisdom). The noun that follows identifies what valuable content the subject contains.

Common Mistakes

This book is a storehouse for interesting facts.
This book is a storehouse of interesting facts.
Use 'of' (not 'for') when describing the contents of a figurative storehouse.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe something that holds valuable content, but they differ in connotation and use. 'Storehouse' is neutral and broad: it works for knowledge, memories, information — a library can be a storehouse of facts, and a person's mind can be a storehouse of stories. 'Treasure trove' adds an element of surprise or delight — you discover something unexpectedly wonderful, like a treasure trove of vintage photographs in a flea market. 'Goldmine' is more informal and suggests practical or financial value — a goldmine of business contacts or research data. 'Repository' is formal and technical, often used in academic or computing contexts — a repository of digital records or historical manuscripts. Choosing among them depends on tone: use 'storehouse' for neutral abundance, 'treasure trove' for delighted discovery, 'goldmine' for informal riches, and 'repository' for formal storage.

storehouse ↗treasure trovegoldminerepository ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • storehouse roof
  • storehouse door
  • farm storehouse
  • old storehouse

Phrases

  • used as a storehouse
  • turned into a storehouse
  • a storehouse of knowledge
  • a storehouse of memories

Prepositions

  • in a storehouse
  • storehouse of
  • storehouse for

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

The word comes from Middle English 'store hous', combining 'store' (supplies or goods laid up) and 'hous' (a building). The literal meaning — a building for keeping provisions — dates back to the 1300s. By the 1500s, writers had begun using it figuratively for anything that holds a rich supply of something, such as knowledge or memories.