luscious

adjective

lus·​cious ˈlə-shəs 

1

a

: having a delicious taste or smell : sweet

chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream topping

b

archaic : excessively sweet : cloying

2

: sexually attractive : seductive, sexy

a luscious actress

3

a

: richly luxurious or appealing to the senses

her luscious voice swelling and decaying with total control, her low notes booming sonorously

—Gary Giddins

b

: excessively ornate

rich and luscious phrases, thick with imagery

—Ruth Park

lusciously adverb

lusciousness noun

Did you know?

Have you ever heard a young child describe a favorite food as “licius” instead of “delicious”? Back in the Middle Ages, the word licius was sometimes used as a shortened form of delicious by adults and kids alike. Linguists believe that luscious may have developed when licius (which comes from the Latin verb delicere, meaning “to entice by charm or attraction”) was further altered to lucius by 15th-century speakers. The adjective lush can sometimes mean “delicious” as well but is not a shortened form of luscious, having developed on its own from the Middle English lusch, meaning “soft or tender.”

Synonyms

• ambrosial
• appetizing
• dainty
• delectable
• delicious
• delish
• flavorful
• flavorsome
• lush
• mouthwatering
• palatable
• savory
• savoury
• scrumptious
• succulent
• tasteful
• tasty
• toothsome
• toothy
• yummy

Examples of luscious in a Sentence

chocolate cake with a luscious whipped cream topping

a luscious strawberry bursting with juice

Recent Examples on the Web

Bulbous egg custard buns ($2 or three for $5.70) were nearly as stellar and eye-catching, dyed a soft yellow, cross-hatched to look like chicken skin and holding a luscious, creamy river inside. —Benjy Egel, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Original price: $13.99 Try this luscious NOONI Vegan Appleseed Lip Oil for ultra-moisturized lips. —Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Bright, deep purple with luscious aromas of blackberry, black currant, mocha and purple iris, this is a wine of impressive ripeness and texture, backed by round, medium-full tannins and good balancing acidity. —Tom Hyland, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

The region initially had 23 Assyrian villages that were ethnically cleansed; the luscious valley is vulnerable to ongoing land thefts by Kurds—a longstanding issue. —David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lucius, perhaps alteration of licius, short for delicious

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for luscious

• piceous

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Kids Definition

luscious

adjective

lus·​cious ˈləsh-əs 

1

: having a delicious taste or smell

luscious berries

2

: appealing to the senses : delightful

lusciously adverb

lusciousness noun