adjective, -er, -est, noun | 1. | having wealth or great possessions; abundantly supplied with resources, means, or funds; wealthy: a rich man; a rich nation. |
| 2. | abounding in natural resources: a rich territory. |
| 3. | having wealth or valuable resources (usually fol. by in): a country rich in traditions. |
| 4. | abounding (usually fol. by in or with): a countryside rich in beauty; a design rich with colors. |
| 5. | of great value or worth; valuable: a rich harvest. |
| 6. | (of food) delectably and perhaps unhealthfully spicy, or sweet and abounding in butter or cream: a rich gravy; a rich pastry. |
| 7. | costly, expensively elegant, or fine, as dress or jewels. |
| 8. | sumptuous; elaborately abundant: a rich feast. |
| 9. | using valuable materials or characterized by elaborate workmanship, as buildings or furniture. |
| 10. | abounding in desirable elements or qualities: a man rich in kindness. |
| 11. | (of wine) strong and finely flavored. |
| 12. | (of color) deep, strong, or vivid: rich purple. |
| 13. | full and mellow in tone: rich sounds; a rich voice. |
| 14. | strongly fragrant; pungent: a rich odor. |
| 15. | producing or yielding abundantly: a rich soil. |
| 16. | abundant, plentiful, or ample: a rich supply. |
| 17. | Automotive. (of a mixture in a fuel system) having a relatively high ratio of fuel to air (contrasted with lean ). |
| 18. | Informal.
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| 19. | (used with a plural verb ) rich persons collectively (usually prec. by the): new tax shelters for the rich. |

rich (rĭch) adj. rich·er, rich·est
Wealthy people considered as a group. Often used with the: "Were there, indeed, a sure appeal to the mercies of the rich, the calamities of the poor might be less intolerable" (Charlotte Smith). [Middle English riche, from Old French (of Germanic origin) and from Old English rīce, strong, powerful; see reg- in Indo-European roots.] rich'ly adv., rich'ness n. Synonyms: These adjectives mean having an abundant supply of money, property, or possessions of value: a rich executive; an affluent banker; a speculator flush with cash; not merely rich but loaded; moneyed heirs; wealthy corporations. |
rich