succulent

adjective suc·cu·lent \ -lənt \

Definition of succulent

1 a :full of juice :juicy

b :moist and tasty :toothsome

a succulent meal

c of a plant :having fleshy tissues that conserve moisture

2 :rich in interest

—

succulently

adverb

See succulent defined for English-language learners

See succulent defined for kids

Examples of succulent in a Sentence

vines weighted down with plump, succulent grapes
a buffet table set with an array of succulent roasts

Recent Examples of succulent from the Web

Purslane is that ground-hugging succulent weed that will restart itself if a branch is broken or is left upright on your soil after being pulled.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Tired of dealing with weeds? Eat them," 9 Aug. 2017
On Patrick: Retro succulent-print shirt from Zoe's in Forest Park.

— AL.com, "What to wear for the last days of summer," 4 Aug. 2017
Saturday’s hours are 3 to 9 p.m. and includes kids cactus class, Dolly & Me taco party, pop-up-play by Two Pink Balloons, succulent planter class, and merchandise discounts.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Brewery listing T-shirt helps woman attain her dream," 26 July 2017
That first taste of the merlot grapes was succulent.

— jackie mansky, Smithsonian, "¡Salud! to the Mexican-American Wine Revolution," 26 July 2017
Don’t worry, there’s meat, too, like the succulent lamb chops.

— kathleen purvis, charlotteobserver, "13 must-eat places for your Charleston trip, plus more to check out," 19 July 2017
Like succulent bouquets before it, kale might be coming into its own in a whole new way than inside the kitchen.

— raisa bruner, Time, "I went on a first date the other day, and it came up that I was vegan. On the second date he brought me a couple bunches of kale from his garden.," 18 July 2017
This succulent melon provides a big nutritional payoff for very few calories.

— sandee lamotte, CNN, "Hemorrhoids: Dangers, treatments and prevention," 4 July 2017
There’s a hedgerow garden that includes moss gardens and flower pots, and there’s a cactus and succulent garden.

— joanne kempinger demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Photos: Moss-covered garden creates a vivid landscape," 25 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'succulent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of succulent

Latin suculentus, from sucus juice, sap; perhaps akin to Latin sugere to suck — more at suck

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1601

See Words from the same year

succulent Synonyms

Synonyms

fleshy, pulpy, juicy

Antonyms

juiceless, sapless

Related Words

sappy, watery

Near Antonyms

dehydrated, desiccated, dry, sere (also sear), shriveled (or shrivelled), withered

succulent

noun

Definition of succulent

:a succulent plant (such as a cactus or an aloe)

See succulent defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of succulent from the Web

Scattered around are succulents and candles, neutral in both scent and appearance.

— cam wolf, GQ, "A Man Cave, but for Manicures," 24 Aug. 2017
A stunning painting from Fort Worth artist Lauren Childs, of incredibly lifelike succulents, pops from a wall outside the Woodhouse Day Spa.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Going to WestBend? Be on the lookout for these public artworks," 30 July 2017
But here’s another thing about most succulents as garden plants.

— paul cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Dog days and succulent plants: A match made in heaven," 7 July 2017
Continue to cook over indirect low heat, with the lid closed, until tender and succulent, 15 to 30 minutes.

— louisa chu, chicagotribune.com, "5 essential elements of barbecue from master griller Jamie Purviance," 26 June 2017
Boxes the color of a desert sunset are staggered between potted succulents at Santa Ana’s Bud and Bloom dispensary.

— brooke edwards staggs, The Cannifornian, "A flower’s tale: How legal weed goes from seed to sale," 11 June 2017
This hanging arrangement speaks to Thomas’ love for tough, waterwise succulents.

— anna webb, idahostatesman, "Check out this Boise garden’s stunning city view. You can tour the artist’s haven this weekend.," 8 June 2017
Instead, take advantage of their survival strategy to make more succulents for your own garden or to share with friends.

— nan sterman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Plant propagation made easy," 2 June 2017
Surprisingly large, bright flowers from such stalwarts can be as captivating as any orchid, Learn more from Jeff Havel about succulents at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 1 at the Lyndhurst Community Center, 1341 Parkview Road.

— maria shine stewart, cleveland.com, "Make summer days a succulent adventure: Sun Messages," 26 May 2017

First Known Use of succulent

1825

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, sylvan, xylem

SUCCULENT Defined for English Language Learners

succulent

adjective

Definition of succulent for English Language Learners

: full of juice
of plants : having thick, heavy leaves or stems that store water

succulent

noun

Definition of succulent for English Language Learners

: a plant that stores water in its leaves or stems : a succulent plant

SUCCULENT Defined for Kids

succulent

adjective suc·cu·lent \ ˈsə-kyə-lənt \

Definition of succulent for Students

:juicy

succulent fruits

Learn More about succulent

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for succulent Spanish Central: Translation of succulent Nglish: Translation of succulent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of succulent for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about succulent

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succulent

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succulently

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succulent

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succulent

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succulent

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