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

Chestnut & Brown Butter Pound Cake with Chocolate Glaze The hefty dose of luscious chestnut cream combined with nutty brown butter bestows a hearty, subtle, comforting flavor of chestnuts and also gives the cake the perfect tender, velvet-like crumb. —Martin Sorge, Chicago Tribune, 16 Dec. 2024

All hydrangeas are perennials that come back with their luscious blooms year-after-year, but, within the larger hydrangea family, there are two types: old wood hydrangeas and new wood hydrangeas. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 15 Dec. 2024

This Gift Basket features a selection of treats—both sweet and savory—that are hand dipped in luscious chocolate by Sugar Plum’s chocolate experts. —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

There's no real margin of error just in terms of having something that's really festive and luscious, like a sauce that's just thick enough to want to cling to a spoon. —Bon Appétit, 11 Dec. 2024

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

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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