[syn: luxury, luxuriousness, opulence, sumptuousness]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Luxury \Lux"u*ry\, n.; pl. Luxuries. [L. luxuria, fr. luxus:
cf. F. luxure.]
1. A free indulgence in costly food, dress, furniture, or
anything expensive which gratifies the appetites or
tastes.
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Riches expose a man to pride and luxury.
--Spectator.
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2. Anything which pleases the senses, is not necessary for
life, and is also costly, or difficult to obtain; an
expensive rarity; as, silks, jewels, and rare fruits are
luxuries; in some countries ice is a great luxury.
Contrasted to necessity.
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He cut the side of a rock for a garden, and, by
laying on it earth, furnished out a kind of luxury
for a hermit. --Addison.
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3. Lechery; lust. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Luxury is in wine and drunkenness. --Chaucer.
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4. Luxuriance; exuberance. [Obs.] --Bacon.
Syn: Voluptuousness; epicurism; effeminacy; sensuality;
lasciviousness; dainty; delicacy; gratification.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
luxury
n 1: something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
2: the quality possessed by something that is excessively
expensive [syn: lavishness, luxury, sumptuosity,
sumptuousness]
3: wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living [syn: luxury,
luxuriousness, opulence, sumptuousness]