English Explanatory Dictionary

lavish

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; prodigal.
  2. Superabundant; excessive.
  3. Unrestrained, impetuous.
  4. Rank or lush with vegetation.
verb
  1. To give out extremely generously; to squander.
  2. To give out to (somebody) extremely generously.
noun
  1. Excessive abundance or expenditure, profusion, prodigality.

Pronunciation

/ˈlævɪʃ/ en-us-lavish.ogg en-au-lavish.ogg

Word forms

lavish lavisher more lavish lavishest most lavish lavis laves lavas lavishes lavishing lavished

Etymology

From Middle English laves, lavas, lavage (“extravagant, wasteful, prodigal”), from lavas (“excessive abundance”), from Old French lavasse, lavache (“torrent of rain”); possibly later conflated in some senses by Middle English laven (“to pour out”), equivalent to lave + -ish. Compare Scots lawage, lavisch, lavish (“unrestrained, excessively prodigal, extravagant”). Compare also English lavy (“lavish, liberal”), Dutch lafenis (“lavishness”).

Synonyms

profuse wasteful extravagant exuberant immoderate opulent improvident imprudent lavish loose-handed prodigal profligate reckless spendthrift squandering uneconomical unthrifty unrestrained devilish excessive extreme intemperate nimious obscene overmuch overweening over the top undue unmeasured unreasonable wanton hasty impulsive rash spontaneous bosky verdant greenly lush verdured verdurous virid viridescent

Related words

lavy

Derived words

lavisher lavishly lavishment lavishness overlavish unlavish unlavished
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