lavish
Use Lavish in a sentence
ɪʃ adjective
1.
expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion: lavish spending.
2.
using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often followed by of ): lavish of his time; lavish of affection.
verb (used with object)
3.
to expend or give in great amounts or without limit: to lavish gifts on a person.
Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English lavas profusion (noun), profuse (adj.) < Middle French lavasse downpour of rain, derivative of laver to wash < Latin lavāre
1425–75; late Middle English lavas profusion (noun), profuse (adj.) < Middle French lavasse downpour of rain, derivative of laver to wash < Latin lavāre
Related forms
lav·ish·er, noun
lav·ish·ly, adverb
lav·ish·ness, noun
o·ver·lav·ish, adjective
o·ver·lav·ish·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1, 2. unstinted, extravagant, wasteful, improvident; generous, openhanded. Lavish, prodigal, profuse refer to that which exists in abundance and is poured out copiously. Lavish suggests (sometimes excessive) generosity and openhandedness: lavish hospitality; much too lavish. Prodigal suggests wastefulness, improvidence, and reckless impatience of restraint: a prodigal extravagance. Profuse emphasizes abundance, but may suggest overemotionalism, exaggeration, or the like: profuse thanks, compliments, apologies. 3. heap, pour; waste, squander, dissipate.
1, 2. unstinted, extravagant, wasteful, improvident; generous, openhanded. Lavish, prodigal, profuse refer to that which exists in abundance and is poured out copiously. Lavish suggests (sometimes excessive) generosity and openhandedness: lavish hospitality; much too lavish. Prodigal suggests wastefulness, improvidence, and reckless impatience of restraint: a prodigal extravagance. Profuse emphasizes abundance, but may suggest overemotionalism, exaggeration, or the like: profuse thanks, compliments, apologies. 3. heap, pour; waste, squander, dissipate.
Antonyms
1, 2. niggardly.
1, 2. niggardly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To lavish
00:10
Lavish
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| chat, to converse |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
lavish (ˈlævɪʃ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | prolific, abundant, or profuse |
| 2. | generous; unstinting; liberal |
| 3. | extravagant; prodigal; wasteful: lavish expenditure |
| —vb | |
| 4. | (tr) to give, expend, or apply abundantly, generously, or in profusion |
| [C15: adj use of lavas profusion, from Old French lavasse torrent, from Latin lavāre to wash] | |
| 'lavisher | |
| —n | |
| 'lavishly | |
| —adv | |
| 'lavishment | |
| —n | |
| 'lavishness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
lavish
mid-15c., from M.Fr. lavasse (n.), from O.Fr. lavache "torrent (of rain), deluge," from laver "to wash," from L. lavare "to wash" (see lave). The verb is first recorded 1540s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
He never indulges in needless extravagance of rhetoric, lavish epithets, profuse imagery.
They fly in a private jet, have a personal physician on staff and maintain multiple lavish residences.
Unfortunately, my family cannot afford to go on such lavish trips.
Its prominence has had much to with the global dominance of its culture, the allure of its labour market and its lavish bursaries.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
