lush

¹

[luhsh]

adjective

lusher, lushest 

1. (of vegetation, plants, grasses, etc.) luxuriant; succulent; tender and juicy.

   Synonyms: fresh, luxurious
   Antonyms: stale

2. characterized by luxuriant vegetation.

   a lush valley.

3. characterized by luxuriousness, opulence, etc..

   the lush surroundings of his home.

lush

²

[luhsh]

noun

1. Disparaging and Offensive.,  a habitual drinker of alcohol who is frequently intoxicated.

   Synonyms: sot, drunkard

2. intoxicating liquor.

verb (used without object)

1. to drink liquor.

verb (used with object)

1. to drink (liquor).

lush

¹

/ lʌʃ /

adjective

1. (of vegetation) abounding in lavish growth

2. (esp of fruits) succulent and fleshy

3. luxurious, elaborate, or opulent

lush

²

/ lʌʃ /

noun

1. a heavy drinker, esp an alcoholic

2. alcoholic drink

verb

1. to drink (alcohol) to excess

Other Word Forms

• lushly adverb
• lushness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lush¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English lusch “slack”; of disputed origin; perhaps cognate with Old English lysu “bad,” lēas “lax,” Middle Low German lasch “slack,” Old Norse lǫskr “weak,” Gothic lasiws “weak”; alternatively, perhaps from Old French lasche “cowardly, loose,” adjective derivative of laschier “to loosen,” from Late Latin laxicāre, derivative of laxāre; relax ( def. )

Origin of lush²

First recorded in 1780–90; perhaps facetious application of lush ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lush¹

C15: probably from Old French lasche lax, lazy, from Latin laxus loose; perhaps related to Old English lǣc, Old Norse lakr weak, German lasch loose

Origin of lush²

C19: origin unknown

Example Sentences

But others get delightfully weird, leaning into the tension between sweet and sharp, lush and savory.

Read more on Salon

With hundreds of exhibitors presenting art across two venues, there’s much ground to cover for visitors to the lush Regent’s Park.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Built in the 1850s, this meticulously maintained property features deep double galleries overlooking lush gardens and a gated entry framed by ancient Crepe Myrtles,” the description stated.

Read more on MarketWatch

So, angry about corruption and police excesses, she says she joined friends protesting in Kikuyu, a lush town on the outskirts of the capital.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

France, Japan and elsewhere trained along newly paved roads winding through Rwanda’s lush hills.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abundant 
• dense 
• green 
• lavish 
• luscious 
• luxuriant 
• luxurious 
• opulent 
• ornate 
• overgrown 
• plush 
• rich 
• sensuous 
• sumptuous 
• verdant