Definition of luscious
1a : having a delicious taste or smell : sweet chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream toppingb archaic : excessively sweet : cloying
2 : sexually attractive : seductive, sexy a luscious actress
3a : richly luxurious or appealing to the senses her luscious voice swelling and decaying with total control, her low notes booming sonorously — Gary Giddinsb : excessively ornate rich and luscious phrases, thick with imagery — Ruth Park
lusciously
adverblusciousness
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luscious was our Word of the Day on 05/18/2017. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of luscious in a Sentence
chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream topping
a luscious strawberry bursting with juice
Recent Examples of luscious from the Web
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But one bite of luscious semifreddo throws this distinction into dispute.
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Both of the paintings depict a luscious spread in a style reminiscent of the Dutch masters: in one, a parrot perches on a basket full of giant vegetables, and in the other a cat presides over a colorful feast.
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Arlene Smith's voice is like no other, cutting through the luscious backing harmonies with angelic perfection.
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The cinematography is luscious and the action sequences impressively staged, especially a massive brawl in which the camera becomes a kinetic player in the fray, pinballing dizzily around the room.
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The Seagram report of 1979, shot in luscious color by Burt Glinn, features a smiling couple enjoying cocktails in front of their Frank Stella painting, and three gents downing scotch and martinis outside the Toronto City Hall.
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Snakes twine across arms in thick violet ink; demons stare from the bare midriffs of luscious Mexican babes.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'luscious'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Have you ever heard a young child say something is licius when he or she really means it's "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 developed when licius was further altered by 15th-century speakers. Both words ultimately derive from the Latin verb delicere, meaning "to entice by charm or attraction." The adjective lush, which can sometimes mean "delicious" as well, is not a shortened form of luscious; it derived on its own from the Middle English lusch, meaning "soft or tender."
Origin and Etymology of luscious
Middle English lucius, perhaps alteration of licius, short for delicious
LUSCIOUS Defined for English Language Learners
luscious
playDefinition of luscious for English Language Learners
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: having a very appealing taste or smell
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: richly appealing
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: very physically attractive
LUSCIOUS Defined for Kids
luscious
playDefinition of luscious for Students
1 : having a delicious taste or smell Children gathered around and stared longingly at the luscious fruit while the adults gulped with their mouths watering. — Grace Lin, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
2 : delightful to hear, see, or feel a luscious singing voice
Learn More about luscious
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for luscious Spanish Central: Translation of luscious Nglish: Translation of luscious for Spanish speakers
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