luxuriant

(lŭg-zhʊr'ē-ənt, lŭk-shʊr'-)
adj.

1. 1. Characterized by rich or profuse growth.
   2. Producing or yielding in abundance. See synonyms at profuse.
2. Excessively florid or elaborate.
3. Marked by or displaying luxury; luxurious.

[Latin luxuriāns, luxuriant-, present participle of luxuriāre, to be luxuriant. See luxuriate.]

luxuriance lux·u'ri·ance n.
luxuriantly lux·u'ri·ant·ly adv.

View more Literature & Language videos

These two words, both connected with the word luxury (in turn derived from the Latin word luxus meaning 'abundance'), have got in each other's way since the 17th century. Nonetheless, their meanings are distinct, as R. M. Ballantyne recognized in two uses in his Coral Island (1858): The trees and bushes were very luxuriant / Altogether this was the most luxurious supper we had enjoyed for many a day. Essentially, luxurious, the more general word, means 'rich or abundant in luxuries or comforts' whereas luxuriant has the specific meaning 'rich or abundant in foliage or vegetation'.

Previous:	lunge, lunch, luncheon, low, lowly
Next:	lychee, lychgate, lyric, lyrical

adjective

1. Growing profusely: dense, heavy, lush¹, profuse, rank², thick. See big/small/amount.
2. Given to or marked by unrestrained abundance: extravagant, exuberant, lavish, lush¹, opulent, prodigal, profuse, riotous, superabundant. See big/small/amount, excess/insufficiency/enough.
3. Characterized by extravagant, ostentatious magnificence: lavish, lush¹, luxurious, opulent, palatial, plush, rich, sumptuous. Informal plushy. See rich/poor.

adj

Definition: profuse, plush
Antonyms: barren, meager, plain, poor

IN BRIEF: n. - The property of being lush and abundant and a pleasure to the senses.

They were greeted by the luxuriance of green meadows fronting the balcony of the large castle.

Tutor's tip: This was the final winning word in the 1927 National Spelling Bee.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

For a list of words related to luxuriant, see:

• Appealing, Elegant, Neat, Rich, or Fancy

---

See words rhyming with "luxuriant."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Luxuriant.