luscious

adjective

lus·​cious ˈlə-shəs 

1

a

: having a delicious taste or smell : sweet

chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream topping

b

archaic : excessively sweet : cloying

2

: sexually attractive : seductive, sexy

a luscious actress

3

a

: richly luxurious or appealing to the senses

her luscious voice swelling and decaying with total control, her low notes booming sonorously

—Gary Giddins

b

: excessively ornate

rich and luscious phrases, thick with imagery

—Ruth Park

lusciously adverb

lusciousness noun

Did you know?

Have you ever heard a young child describe a favorite food as “licius” instead of “delicious”? Back in the Middle Ages, the word licius was sometimes used as a shortened form of delicious by adults and kids alike. Linguists believe that luscious may have developed when licius (which comes from the Latin verb delicere, meaning “to entice by charm or attraction”) was further altered to lucius by 15th-century speakers. The adjective lush can sometimes mean “delicious” as well but is not a shortened form of luscious, having developed on its own from the Middle English lusch, meaning “soft or tender.”

Synonyms

• delicious

Examples of luscious in a Sentence

chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream topping

a luscious strawberry bursting with juice

Recent Examples on the Web

But there are also surprises here: cannelloni with white chocolate sake and a luscious Paris-Brest with little hats of praline popcorn, luscious on their own. —Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Cold butter is whisked in at the end to add sheen and luscious body to the sauce before it’s finished with fresh lemon juice and a healthy dose of black pepper. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025

The luscious, three-column design on this option adds a geometric, clean-line appearance to any aesthetic, and the shade of sage green is complementary to a slew of colors—even a brighter shade of pistachio. —Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 21 June 2025

Her entire body was covered with luscious, curly hair that looked like a cloud. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lucius, perhaps alteration of licius, short for delicious

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for luscious

• piceous

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Kids Definition

luscious

adjective

lus·​cious ˈləsh-əs 

1

: having a delicious taste or smell

luscious berries

2

: appealing to the senses : delightful

lusciously adverb

lusciousness noun