voluptuous

[ vuh-luhp-choo-uhs ]

adjective

1. full of, characterized by, or ministering to indulgence in luxury, pleasure, and sensuous enjoyment:

   a voluptuous life.

2. derived from gratification of the senses:

   voluptuous pleasure.

3. directed toward or concerned with sensuous enjoyment or sensual pleasure:

   voluptuous desires.

4. sensuously pleasing or delightful:

   voluptuous beauty.

voluptuous

/ vəˈlʌptjʊəs /

adjective

1. relating to, characterized by, or consisting of pleasures of the body or senses; sensual
2. disposed, devoted, or addicted to sensual indulgence or luxurious pleasures
3. provocative and sexually alluring, esp through shapeliness or fullness

   a voluptuous woman

Derived Forms

• voˈluptuousness, noun
• voˈluptuously, adverb

Other Words From

• vo·luptu·ous·ly adverb
• vo·luptu·ous·ness vo·lup·tu·os·i·ty [v, uh, -luhp-choo-, os, -i-tee], noun
• unvo·luptu·ous adjective
• unvo·luptu·ous·ly adverb
• unvo·luptu·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluptuous¹

First recorded 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin voluptuōsus, equivalent to volupt(ās), “pleasure” + -ōsus -ous; -u- probably by association with sumptuōsus sumptuous

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluptuous¹

C14: from Latin voluptuōsus full of gratification, from voluptās pleasure

Synonym Study

See sensual.

Example Sentences

His voluptuous movement, however sharp or delicate, flows on waves of musical notes.

From New York Times

Its narrative arc is as thoroughly well-documented as that voluptuous lobster spaghetti.

From Salon

Emin’s oeuvre has only ever orbited one thing: herself, in her many mournful, voluptuous, warty, wild and furious incarnations.

From New York Times

"For instance, women in Bollywood films 30 years ago were more voluptuous than that globalised supermodel standard of beauty," Ms Vohra says.

From BBC

In a genre that can be numbingly formulaic and indifferently composed, she remains a masterful builder of mood, her voluptuous prose heavy with sex and weather.

From New York Times

Related Words

• appealing
• delightful
• sensuous
• sexy