Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Lavish

//ˈlævɪʃ// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; prodigal.

    "lavish of money; lavish of praise"

  2. 2
    Superabundant; excessive.

    "lavish spirits"

  3. 3
    Unrestrained, impetuous. obsolete

    "Thou wilt repent theſe lauiſh words of thine"

  4. 4
    Rank or lush with vegetation. dialectal

    "[…] Thro’ lands where not a leaf was dumb; ⁠But all the lavish hills would hum The murmur of a happy Pan: […]"

Adjective
  1. 1
    very generous wordnet
  2. 2
    characterized by extravagance and profusion wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Excessive abundance or expenditure, profusion, prodigality. obsolete, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To give out extremely generously; to squander. transitive

    "They lavished money on the dinner."

  2. 2
    expend profusely; also used with abstract nouns wordnet
  3. 3
    To give out to (somebody) extremely generously. transitive

    "They lavished him with praise."

Etymology

Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

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”).

Etymology 3

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”).

See also for "lavish"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: lavish