lush1
[luhsh]
- (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.
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Origin of lush1
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
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
1. withered, stale.
lush2
[luhsh]Slang.
- drunkard; alcoholic; sot.
- intoxicating liquor.
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- to drink liquor.
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- to drink (liquor).
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Origin of lush2
First recorded in 1780–90; perhaps facetious application of lush1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
abundantdensesensuoussumptuousopulentluxuriouslavishovergrownlusciousgreenrichornateverdantplushluxuriantsucculentrankprodigaldeliciousgrandExamples from the Web for lush
Contemporary Examples
The forests were lush and filled with life, from giant snakes to monkeys.
From the height of 700 feet, a lush uniform green obscured the destruction unfolding below him.
But most of her interpretative choices are sound, even on a song with challenging psychological depths such as “Lush Life.”
Some day we will have a proper book on Tove Jansson the fine artist, with lush reproductions of her work.
“The painting is lush and triggers a sensory overload,” Harding said.
Historical Examples
The coastline was just ahead: green with a lush, tropical vegetation.
Here in the valley, notwithstanding the recent drought, the grass was lush.
The History of Sir Richard CalmadyLucas Malet
They leaves us to oursel's, and then takes away all the lush with 'em!
Paul Clifford, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
They were still there, wallowing in the shallow water and grazing on the lush vegetation.
The WeaklingEverett B. Cole
The old man now,” went on Grogan, “is a good deal of a lush.
Little Lost SisterVirginia Brooks
lush1
- (of vegetation) abounding in lavish growth
- (esp of fruits) succulent and fleshy
- luxurious, elaborate, or opulent
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Word Origin
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
lush2
- a heavy drinker, esp an alcoholic
- alcoholic drink
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- US and Canadian to drink (alcohol) to excess
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Word Origin
C19: origin unknown
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for 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.
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n.
"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]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper