Select the synonym of the noun "stash" when it is used to mean a hidden store or supply of something.

Introduction / Context:
In this vocabulary question, you must identify a synonym of the noun "stash". The word appears very often in news reports, crime stories, and informal conversation, usually referring to a hidden quantity of money, goods, or illegal items. Competitive exams check whether you can link such everyday terms with more formal or technical equivalents. Choosing the correct synonym shows that you understand both the meaning and the typical context of the word.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Target word: "stash", used as a noun.
Given options: dearth, deficit, lack, cache.
We assume the common meaning "secret or hidden store" of valuable or illegal items.
Only one option has this sense of a stored supply, especially a secret one.
Other options are related to shortage, which is the opposite of having a stash.

Concept / Approach:
"Stash" as a noun refers to a collection of something that has been put away, often secretly or for future use. For example, a person might keep a stash of savings or a stash of snacks. A good synonym should therefore suggest a store, hoard, or cache. In contrast, words like "dearth", "deficit", and "lack" describe absence or insufficiency, which is conceptually opposite to having a supply. So we can group options into those that express shortage and those that express stored quantity, and then choose accordingly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that a "stash" is a hidden collection or secret store of items. Step 2: Examine option A, "dearth". This means scarcity or an insufficient quantity of something, the exact opposite of a stored supply. Step 3: Examine option B, "deficit". This refers to a shortfall or negative balance, such as a budget deficit, again indicating not enough of something. Step 4: Examine option C, "lack". This is a common word for the absence or insufficiency of something, which conflicts with the idea of having a stash. Step 5: Examine option D, "cache". This means a hidden store of goods, valuables, or data, such as a cache of weapons or a cache of files on a computer. Step 6: Since "cache" clearly refers to a stored supply and often a secret one, it aligns closely with "stash".

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, place each option in a natural sentence. "The police found a stash of weapons" can be rewritten as "The police found a cache of weapons". The sentence remains meaningful. However, "dearth of weapons", "deficit of weapons", or "lack of weapons" indicate that weapons are missing or insufficient, not secretly stored. This confirms that only "cache" carries the notion of a hidden store that matches "stash". Dictionaries also directly list "cache" and "hoard" as synonyms of "stash".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because "dearth" means scarcity or insufficient quantity, which opposes the idea of having a supply hidden away.
Option B is wrong because "deficit" is a technical term for shortfall in accounts or balances, not a secret collection of items.
Option C is wrong because "lack" refers to absence, once again the opposite of a stash or hoard.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to select words that share a negative or serious tone rather than focusing on exact meaning. Some candidates might see mysterious or formal sounding words and choose them without checking whether they indicate shortage or surplus. When dealing with synonyms, always think of one or two typical sentences that use the target word, then test each option in that sentence. If the resulting sentence still describes the same situation, you have likely found a genuine synonym.

Final Answer:
cache