Other Word Forms
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hyperlustrousnessnoun
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lustrousnessnoun
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nonlustrousnessnoun
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semilustrousnessnoun
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sublustrousnessnoun
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hyperlustrousadjective
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nonlustrousadjective
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semilustrousadjective
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sublustrousadjective
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unlustrousadjective
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hyperlustrouslyadverb
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lustrouslyadverb
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nonlustrouslyadverb
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semilustrouslyadverb
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sublustrouslyadverb
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unlustrouslyadverb
Etymology
Origin of lustrous
First recorded in 1595–1605; lust(e)r 1 + -ous
Explanation
In shampoo commercials, the hair you see swinging is lustrous. It is brilliant, in the shiny sense. Lustrous has its root in the Latin lustrare which means "to illuminate or shine light over." When something is lustrous, it reflects light in a glossy and shiny way. A bright smile and a glowing reputation are both lustrous. If someone has a long and successful work history, you might say their career is illustrious, meaning it has been lustrous for a long time.
Vocabulary lists containing lustrous
The Odyssey
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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The Book Thief
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A high-profile Japanese anime voice actor has taken TikTok to court over videos he says feature an artificial intelligence clone of his "lustrous" baritone, with a verdict due on Wednesday.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
The Hunt bust is fashioned in the lustrous, realistic style that French would bring to the Lincoln Memorial a generation later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
Her lips are a neutral dusty mauve, her bass guitar a lustrous red.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2026
The song’s climax — Estrada’s lustrous voice intertwined with a swelling orchestral arrangement — will probably bring tears to your eyes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
She had lustrous black hair and warm brown eyes.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
