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

Made from equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the Brut Reserve is creamy and lush yet fresh, with bright notes of citrus and orange peel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The master bedroom features enough space for a king-sized bed, a futon, and comes with several windows that showcase the lush backyard.

Read more on MarketWatch

Few people realize that these birds spend most of their lives much farther south, relying on the lush and often remote forests of Central America to survive the rest of the year.

Read more on Science Daily

On a lush cricket ground outside Colombo the sharp jingling of a ball cuts through the afternoon air.

Read more on Barron's

The execution is nevertheless lush, sometimes startlingly beautiful, and painterly and evocative of Johnson’s elegiac theme about a bygone America.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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