different between luscious vs pleasurable

English

Alternative forms

• lushious (obsolete)

Etymology

From earlier lushious, lussyouse (“luscious, richly sweet, delicious”), a corruption of *lustious, from lusty (“pleasant, delicious”) +? -ous. Shakespeare uses both lush (short for lushious) and lusty in the same sense: "How lush and lusty the grass looks" (The Tempest ii. I.52).

An alternative etymology connects luscious to a Middle English term: lucius, an alteration of licious, believed to be a shortening of delicious.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?l???s/
• Rhymes: -???s

Adjective

luscious (comparative more luscious, superlative most luscious)

1. Sweet and pleasant; delicious.
   • 1863, H.S. Thompson, Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden

     Her lips were like two luscious beefsteaks.

   • 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz

     There were lovely patches of greensward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits.

2. Sexually appealing; seductive.
3. Obscene.

Translations

English

Etymology

From pleasure +? -able.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pl?????b?l/

Adjective

pleasurable (comparative more pleasurable, superlative most pleasurable)

1. That gives pleasure

   The massage was a pleasurable experience.

   • c. 1620, Francis Bacon, letter of advice to Sir George Villiers

     Planting of orchards is very […] pleasurable.

   • 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury:

     At Rome every Pleasurable Female pays a Julio per Week to the Church […]

Synonyms

• (giving pleasure): nice, pleasant, pleasing

Derived terms

Related terms

• pleasure
• please

Translations