lush

[ luhsh ]

/ lʌʃ /

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adjective, lush·er, lush·est.

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

characterized by luxuriant vegetation: a lush valley.

characterized by luxuriousness, opulence, etc.: the lush surroundings of his home.

Nearby words

lusatian, luschka's bursa, luschka's duct, luscious, luser, lush, lusher, lushhead, lushy, lusitania, lusitanian

Origin of lush

1400–50; late Middle English lusch slack; akin to Old English lysu bad, lēas lax, Middle Low German lasch slack, Old Norse lǫskr weak, Gothic lasiws weak

SYNONYMS FOR lush

1 luxurious, fresh.

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ANTONYMS FOR lush

1 withered, stale.

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Related formslush·ly, adverblush·ness, noun

Definition for lush (2 of 2)

lush

[ luhsh ]

/ lʌʃ /

Slang.

noun

drunkard; alcoholic; sot.

intoxicating liquor.

verb (used without object)

to drink liquor.

verb (used with object)

to drink (liquor).

Origin of lush

First recorded in 1780–90; perhaps facetious application of lush¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lush

The forests were lush and filled with life, from giant snakes to monkeys.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From the height of 700 feet, a lush uniform green obscured the destruction unfolding below him.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But most of her interpretative choices are sound, even on a song with challenging psychological depths such as “Lush Life.”
Can Lady Gaga Do Jazz?|Ted Gioia|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some day we will have a proper book on Tove Jansson the fine artist, with lush reproductions of her work.
Tove Jansson, Queen of the Moomins|John Garth|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“The painting is lush and triggers a sensory overload,” Harding said.
Hello, ‘Gorgeous’: Grit and Glamour In San Francisco|Emily Wilson|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A light breeze sprang up and stirred the long, lush grass of the field which bordered the shadow of the trees.
A German Pompadour|Marie Hay
Down they went, down and down through the moisture and lush fernery.
Carnival|Compton Mackenzie
Away toward the head of the lake frozen cliffs jutted up to the sky from green, lush fields of deep grass.
Queen of the Flaming Diamond|Leroy Yerxa
She seemed to have the texture of the water chestnut and the lush, fat vegetables of the spring.
The "Genius"|Theodore Dreiser
Milabung ang mga sagbut pag-ulan, The weeds and grasses became thick and lush when it rained.
A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan|John U. Wolff

British Dictionary definitions for lush (1 of 2)

lush

/ (lʌʃ) /

adjective

(of vegetation) abounding in lavish growth

(esp of fruits) succulent and fleshy

luxurious, elaborate, or opulent

Derived Formslushly, adverblushness, noun

Word Origin for lush

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

British Dictionary definitions for lush (2 of 2)

lush

/ (lʌʃ) slang /

noun

a heavy drinker, esp an alcoholic

alcoholic drink

verb

US and Canadian to drink (alcohol) to excess

Word Origin for lush

C19: origin unknown

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for lush (1 of 2)

lush

adj.

mid-15c., "lax, flaccid, soft, tender," from Old French lasche "soft, succulent," from laschier "loosen," from Late Latin laxicare "become shaky," related to Latin laxare "loosen," from laxus "loose" (see lax). Sense of "luxuriant in growth" is first attested c.1600, in Shakespeare. Applied to colors since 1744. Related: Lushly; lushness.

Word Origin and History for lush (1 of 2)

lush

"drunkard," 1890, from earlier (1790) slang meaning "liquor" (especially in phrase lush ken "alehouse"); perhaps a humorous use of lush (adj.) or from Romany or Shelta (tinkers' jargon).

LUSHEY. Drunk. The rolling kiddeys had a spree, and got bloody lushey; the dashing lads went on a party of pleasure, and got very drunk. ["Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence," London, 1811]

lush

adjective, lush·er, lush·est.

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Nearby words

Origin of lush

Definition for lush (2 of 2)

lush

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of lush

Examples from the Web for lush

British Dictionary definitions for lush (1 of 2)

lush

adjective

Word Origin for lush

British Dictionary definitions for lush (2 of 2)

lush

noun

verb

Word Origin for lush

Word Origin and History for lush (1 of 2)

lush

Word Origin and History for lush (1 of 2)

lush