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lush

adj. · n.
US //ˈɫəʃ// UK //lˈʌʃ// lush
  1. 1 thick and green (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    growing thickly and healthily, especially plants or grass.

    characterised by abundant, healthy, and luxuriant growth, typically in reference to vegetation.

    Example

    The valley was filled with lush green grass after the spring rains.

    Example

    The explorers struggled to navigate through the lush tropical rainforest, where the canopy was so dense it blocked out the midday sun.
  2. 2 rich and expensive (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    very comfortable, expensive, and high quality.

    appealing to the senses through richness, luxury, or opulence.

    Example

    The hotel room was decorated with lush velvet curtains and soft carpets.

    Example

    The film's lush cinematography and intricate costume design earned it several awards during the festival season.
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  1. 3 attractive or great (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Informal Slang

    very attractive, beautiful, or excellent.

    used as a general term of approval for something or someone aesthetically pleasing or high in quality.

    Example

    You look absolutely lush in that new dress.

    Example

    We had a lush time at the festival last weekend, despite the occasional rain shower.
  2. 4 a heavy drinker (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal Slang

    a person who drinks too much alcohol very often.

    a person who habitually consumes alcohol to excess.

    Example

    He has been a bit of a lush since he lost his job last year.

    Example

    The character was portrayed as a harmless neighborhood lush, though the underlying themes of the play were much darker.

    Usage

    Usually carries a negative or mocking tone.
    • teetotaler
Etymology 1

From Middle English lusch (“slack, relaxed, limp, loose”), from Old English lysċ, lesċ (“slack; limp”), from Proto-West Germanic laskw, from Proto-Germanic laskwaz (“weak, false, feeble”), from Proto-Indo-European lēy- (“to let; leave behind”). Akin to Old English lysu, lesu (“false, evil, base”), Middle Low German lasch (“slack”), Middle High German er-leswen (“to become weak”), Old Norse lǫskr (“weak, feeble”), Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐍃𐌹𐍅𐍃 (lasiws, “weak, feeble”), Middle Low German las, lasich (“slack, languid, idle”), Low German lusch (“loose”). Doublet of lusk. More at lishey, lazy.

Etymology 2

Perhaps a humorous use of the preceding word, or perhaps from Shelta lush (“food and drink”) (the sense "liquor" is older than the sense "drinker"). The Century Dictionary wrote that it was "said to be so called from one Lushington, a once well-known London brewer", but the Online Etymology Dictionary considers lushington (“drinker”) a humorous extension of lush instead.

Idioms1 entry

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