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

In Spain, where la hora del vermut is a beloved premeal ritual akin to Italy’s aperitivo, vermut culture has evolved to embrace myriad styles, especially leaning into luscious fruit profiles and richer textures. —Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025

It was marketed as a cosmetic treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), but beneath its appeal of luscious locks lies a darker story, one that's now being brought to light by a sweeping new review from Mayer Brezis and colleagues at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. —Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025

On some lucky afternoons, that includes the luscious aroma of Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries from the Quaker Oats cereal mill. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

This luscious lip mask will keep your lips soft all season long thanks to hydrating and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and squalane. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 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