lush

¹

[ luhsh ]

adjective

, lush·er, lush·est.

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 /

noun

1. a heavy drinker, esp an alcoholic
2. alcoholic drink

verb

1. to drink (alcohol) to excess

lush

²

/ lʌʃ /

adjective

1. (of vegetation) abounding in lavish growth
2. (esp of fruits) succulent and fleshy
3. luxurious, elaborate, or opulent

Derived Forms

• ˈlushly, adverb
• ˈlushness, noun

Other Words From

• lushly adverb
• lushness 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

C19: origin unknown

Origin of lush²

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

Example Sentences

Though the dream is to land somewhere like the Hills, with its lush green lawns and indecent wealthiness, cramped apartments or weird houses with hot-pink dining rooms in the Valley will do for now.

From Vox

In the midafternoon slog of spreadsheets and deadlines, we tend to conjure up more pleasant scenes, like lush beaches with generously poured margaritas.

From Popular-Science

The rendezvous was a beautiful piece of land with lush grasses, a small stream, and a forested foothill in the background.

From Popular-Science

Every minute of it is crowded with beauty, from the stunning visuals to the beautiful, lush score by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

From Vox

The material flows really well and has the lush properties of high-end fabric.

From Ozy

The forests were lush and filled with life, from giant snakes to monkeys.

From The Daily Beast

The sounds are less mechanical and more lush, more concert hall than dance floor.

From The Daily Beast

From the height of 700 feet, a lush uniform green obscured the destruction unfolding below him.

From The Daily Beast

But most of her interpretative choices are sound, even on a song with challenging psychological depths such as “Lush Life.”

From The Daily Beast

Some day we will have a proper book on Tove Jansson the fine artist, with lush reproductions of her work.

From The Daily Beast

He seemed to recall a state of lush, sybaritic softness, in pre-silicate times.

From Project Gutenberg

Down through the lush vegetation, the cylinder felt its way, dropping very slowly.

From Project Gutenberg

They would sit down in the lush grass of a shady green lane, close to a pool where the bull-frogs croaked.

From Project Gutenberg

The grass grows lush in the meadows and tangles in the hills that almost surround it.

From Project Gutenberg

Several times I saw him coming up whistling softly with a lush air of subdued and happy reminiscence.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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