luscious

adjective

lus·cious | \ ˈlə-shəs

Definition of luscious

1a : 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

3a : 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

Other Words from luscious Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about luscious

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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."

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

The single best bite of the day was the pork belly jicama taco, where the jicama shell was the crunchy foil to the luscious pork, and the pickled red onions and cilantro balanced the kick from sriracha. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Eating my way through Mercado del Barrio: This is what America tastes like," 20 June 2019 But the three dozen-or-so plastic hair rollers stashed in the East Hartford man’s carry-on luggage weren’t meant for luscious curls. — Michael Brice-saddler, courant.com, "Prosecutors: East Hartford man tried to smuggle 34 finches through JFK Airport," 18 June 2019 Jarmusch dispatches a pair of luscious teens (Selena Gomez and Austin Butler) to show his contempt for the zombie film market. — Armond White, National Review, "The Dead Don’t Die: Climate-Change Comedy for the Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez Era," 14 June 2019 The combination of chocolate, coffee, and cannabis is unsurprisingly luscious. — Allure, "12 CBD Tinctures, Gummies, and Drinks That Help Calm Anxiety," 23 Oct. 2018 Earth wasn’t a completely pristine, luscious utopia before humans came along and life has always been a little dirty. — Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian, "Here Are 12 Things You Might Miss in the Smithsonian’s New Fossil Hall," 7 June 2019 Arthur has experience with chickens, but also growing flowers from seed with spectacular results, as illustrated on his Instagram account and in his luscious book The Pottery Gardener. — Kendra Wilson, Vogue, "At 2019’s Chelsea Flower Show, Wild Survivalist Gardens Grow," 21 May 2019 Chicken and broccoli gets a makeover in the form of this luscious and surprisingly simple sauce. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Rigatoni with Chicken and Broccoli Bolognese," 29 Apr. 2019 Of course, my eye goes straight to the luscious blue chairs and ottoman. — Christine Pittel, House Beautiful, "Mary McGee on Decorating a House in Shades of Purple," 17 Feb. 2015

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.

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Last Updated

23 Jun 2019

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The first known use of luscious was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for luscious

luscious

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of luscious

: having a very appealing taste or smell

: richly appealing

informal : very physically attractive

See the full definition for luscious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

luscious

adjective

lus·cious | \ ˈlə-shəs

Kids Definition of luscious

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