effusive

adjective

ef·​fu·​sive i-ˈfyü-siv 

e-,

-ziv

1

: marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm

effusive praise

2

archaic : pouring freely

3

: characterized or formed by a nonexplosive outpouring of lava

effusive rocks

effusively adverb

effusiveness noun

Did you know?

Effusive History Is Overflowing

We've used effusive in English to describe excessive outpourings since the 17th century. In the 1800s, geologists adopted the specific sense related to flowing lava—or to hardened rock formed from flowing lava. Effusive can be traced, via the Medieval Latin adjective effūsīvus ("generating profusely, lavish"), to the Latin verb effundere ("to pour out"), which itself comes from fundere ("to pour") plus a modification of the prefix ex- ("out"). Our verb effuse has the same Latin ancestors. A person effuses when speaking effusively. Liquids can effuse as well, as in "water effusing from a pipe."

Synonyms

• demonstrative
• emotional
• touchy-feely
• uninhibited
• unreserved
• unrestrained

Examples of effusive in a Sentence

They offered effusive thanks for our help.

often effusive no matter what the occasion, they are even more so at weddings and funerals

Recent Examples on the Web

The 69-year-old actor-director tried to stay composed for much of his 11-minute standing ovation while the effusive reception for his passion project Horizon: An American Saga played out. —Carita Rizzo, Peoplemag, 25 May 2024

This pushes you to be excitable and effusive one moment, then serious and mature the next. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 21 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin effūsīvus "generating profusely, lavish," from Latin effūsus (past participle of effundere "to pour out, discharge, expend") + -īvus -ive — more at effuse entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

effusive

adjective

ef·​fu·​sive i-ˈfyü-siv 

e-,

-ziv

: expressing or showing much emotion

effusive thanks for their anniversary present

effusively adverb

effusiveness noun