English Explanatory Dictionary

mellifluous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Flowing like honey.
  2. Sweet, smooth and musical; pleasant to hear (generally used of a person's voice, tone or writing style).

Pronunciation

en-us-mellifluous.ogg /məˈlɪflu.əs/ /mɛˈlɪflu.əs/

Word forms

mellifluous more mellifluous most mellifluous

Etymology

From Latin mellifluus (“flowing like honey”), from mel (“honey”) + fluō (“flow”). Compare superfluous and fluid, from same root, and with dulcet (“sweet speech”), alternative Latinate term with a similar meaning.

Synonyms

birdsweet dulcet euphonious mellifluent

Related words

melliloquent superfluous

Derived words

mellifluously mellifluousness unmellifluous
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