keepsake

Everyday

1. A small thing you keep to help you remember a person, place or time. tree →
2. A gift given so the person will remember the giver. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and family life a keepsake can be a photo, a lock of hair, a shell from a holiday, or a ring from a grandparent who has died. It tells the reader the thing is precious for its memories, not its price. Phrases: «as a keepsake», «a treasured keepsake», «keepsake box».

Examples

• Gran gave me her old brooch as a keepsake. tree →
• I keep the shell as a keepsake of our beach holiday. tree →
• The ticket is a keepsake from my first concert. tree →
• She kept his letters as keepsakes. tree →
• Our class made keepsake boxes for our memories. tree →
• After Grandpa passed away, each grandchild chose a keepsake. tree →
• But at parting the little girl took an elder-blossom from her breast and gave it to him as a keepsake. tree →

Note

Countable, one word. Similar: memento, souvenir (a souvenir is often bought on a trip; a keepsake is more personal).