ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lavish

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɫævɪʃ// UK //lˈævɪʃ// lav·ish Archaic Dialect

adj. very expensive, impressive, or large in amount. You use it to describe things like parties or gifts that show someone has spent a lot of money.

adj. sumptuous, elaborate, or luxurious in nature; occurring in profusion or excess. Often used to describe hospitality, lifestyles, or physical decorations.


SIMPLE

They threw a lavish party for their wedding anniversary.

CONTEXTUAL

The hotel lobby was decorated with lavish floral arrangements and gold-leaf furniture.

COMPLEX

Despite the country's economic struggles, the elite continued to enjoy a lavish lifestyle characterized by private jets and sprawling estates.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English laves, lavas, lavage (“extravagant, wasteful, prodigal”), from lavas (“excessive abundance”), from Old French lavasse, lavache (“torrent of rain”); possibly later conflated in some senses by Middle English laven (“to pour out”), equivalent to lave + -ish. Compare Scots lawage, lavisch, lavish (“unrestrained, excessively prodigal, extravagant”). Compare also English lavy (“lavish, liberal”), Dutch lafenis (“lavishness”).

Usage

Typically precedes the noun it modifies; can also follow linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.

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