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richness

 - 4 dictionary results

rich

  [rich] adjective, -er, -est, noun
Use richness in a Sentence
–adjective
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.
a. highly amusing.
b. ridiculous; absurd.
–noun
19. (used with a plural verb) rich persons collectively (usually prec. by the): new tax shelters for the rich.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE rīce (adj.) ≪ Celtic; c. G reich wealthy; akin to L rēx, Skt rājan king

Related forms:
richly, adverb
richness, noun

Synonyms:
1. well-to-do, moneyed. Rich, wealthy, affluent all indicate abundance of possessions. Rich is the general word; it may imply that possessions are newly acquired: an oilman who became rich overnight. Wealthy suggests permanence, stability, and appropriate surroundings: a wealthy banker. Affluent usually suggests a generous amount of income, with a high standard of living and some social prestige and privilege: an affluent family. 5. bountiful, copious, luxuriant. 7. precious, high-priced, dear. 12. intense, vibrant. 14. aromatic. 15. fruitful, productive, prolific, luxuriant. 16. bountiful, copious, abounding, bounteous.

Antonyms:
1–5, 15, 16. poor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To richness
rich   (rĭch)   
adj.   rich·er, rich·est

  1. Possessing great material wealth: "Now that he was rich he was not thought ignorant any more, but simply eccentric" (Mavis Gallant).

  2. Having great worth or value: a rich harvest of grain.

  3. Magnificent; sumptuous: a rich brocade.

    1. Having an abundant supply: rich in ideas.

    2. Abounding, especially in natural resources: rich land.

    3. Containing a large amount of choice ingredients, such as butter, sugar, or eggs, and therefore unusually heavy or sweet: a rich dessert.

    4. Having or exuding a strong or pungent aroma: "Texas air is so rich you can nourish off it like it was food" (Edna Ferber).

    5. Pleasantly full and mellow: a rich tenor voice.

    6. Warm and strong in color: a rich brown velvet.

  5. Meaningful and significant: "a rich sense of the transaction between writer and reader" (William Zinsser).

  6. Very productive and therefore financially profitable: rich seams of coal.

    1. Containing a large amount of choice ingredients, such as butter, sugar, or eggs, and therefore unusually heavy or sweet: a rich dessert.

    2. Having or exuding a strong or pungent aroma: "Texas air is so rich you can nourish off it like it was food" (Edna Ferber).

    3. Pleasantly full and mellow: a rich tenor voice.

    4. Warm and strong in color: a rich brown velvet.

    1. Pleasantly full and mellow: a rich tenor voice.

    2. Warm and strong in color: a rich brown velvet.

  9. Containing a large proportion of fuel to air: a rich gas mixture.

  10. Informal Highly amusing.

n.   (used with a pl. verb)
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.
Antonym: poor
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

rich 
O.E. rice "wealthy, powerful, mighty," from P.Gmc. *rikijaz (cf. O.N. rikr, O.H.G. rihhi "ruler, powerful, rich," O.Fris. rike, Du. rijk, Ger. reich "rich," Goth. reiks "ruler, powerful, rich"), borrowed from a Celtic source akin to Gaulish *rix, O.Ir. ri (gen. rig) "king," from PIE base *reg- "move in a straight line," hence, "direct, rule" (see rex). The form of the word infl. in M.E. by O.Fr. riche "wealthy," from Frank. *riki "powerful," from the Gmc. source. The evolution of the word reflects a connection between wealth and power in the ancient world. Of food and colors, from c.1330; of sounds, from 1592. Sense of "entertaining, amusing" is recorded from 1760. The noun meaning "the wealthy" was in O.E.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

rich

Of, relating to, or being a security price judged by some investors to be too high. For example, a new issue of stock may carry an offering price that many analysts consider rich. If too many investors and analysts believe the price is rich, the offering may be unsuccessful.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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