delicious
delicious
Pronunciation
dɪˈlɪʃəs
di-: /dɪ/ - The "d" is a voiced alveolar plosive, and the "i" is a weak vowel, a near-close near-front unrounded vowel.
li-: /lɪ/ - The "l" is a voiced alveolar lateral approximant, and the "i" is a weak vowel, a near-close near-front unrounded vowel.
cious: /ʃəs/ - The "sh" sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, and the "us" is a schwa sound, a mid-central vowel.
Word Form Variations
Adjective:
Positive form: delicious (e.g., "This cake is delicious.")
Comparative form: more delicious (e.g., "This cake is more delicious than the last one.")
Superlative form: most delicious (e.g., "This is the most delicious cake I've ever had.")
Adverb:
deliciously (e.g., "The soup was seasoned deliciously.")
Noun:
deliciousness (This refers to the quality of being delicious. It is usually uncountable, but can be pluralized as "deliciousnesses" in specific, often literary, contexts to refer to different instances or kinds of deliciousness. E.g., "The deliciousness of her cooking is renowned.")
Delicious (capitalized): This refers to a specific variety of apple, such as "Red Delicious" or "Golden Delicious." In this context, it can be pluralized (e.g., "I bought a bag of Deliciouses").
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition: Highly pleasing to the senses, especially the taste or smell; having a delightful flavor or aroma.
Synonyms: appetizing, palatable, delectable, tasty, scrumptious, luscious, ambrosial, savory
Antonyms: unappetizing, unpalatable, tasteless, bland, unflavored, insipid, revolting, disgusting
Definition: (Figurative) Extremely enjoyable, satisfying, or delightful in a non-sensory way; producing great pleasure or amusement.
Synonyms: delightful, enjoyable, charming, captivating, enchanting, wonderful, pleasant, gratifying, amusing, entertaining
Antonyms: unpleasant, unenjoyable, tedious, boring, dreadful, disagreeable, unwelcome, irritating
Adverb
deliciously
Definition: In a way that is highly pleasing to the senses, particularly taste or smell; with delightful flavor or aroma.
Synonyms: palatably, delectably, scrumptiously, tastily, lusciously, richly
Antonyms: unpalatably, blandly, tastelessly, insipidly
deliciously
Definition: (Figurative) In an extremely enjoyable, satisfying, or delightful manner; with great pleasure or amusement.
Synonyms: delightfully, enjoyably, charmingly, captivatingly, enchantingly, wonderfully, pleasantly, gratifyingly, amusingly, entertainingly
Antonyms: unpleasantly, unenjoyably, tediously, boringly, dreadfully, disagreeably, irritatingly
Noun
deliciousness
Definition: The quality or state of being highly pleasing to the senses, especially taste or smell; the characteristic of having a delightful flavor or aroma.
Synonyms: palatability, delectability, tastiness, scrumptiousness, lusciousness, richness, savoriness, savor
Antonyms: unappetizingness, unpalatability, tastelessness, blandness, insipidness, repulsiveness, disgust
deliciousness (Figurative)
Definition: The quality or state of being extremely enjoyable, satisfying, or delightful in a non-sensory way; the characteristic of producing great pleasure or amusement.
Synonyms: delightfulness, enjoyableness, charm, captivation, enchantment, wonder, pleasantness, gratification, amusement, entertainment
Antonyms: unpleasantness, unenjoyableness, tediousness, boredom, dreadfulness, disagreeableness, irritation
Delicious (Proper Noun, capitalized)
Definition: A specific cultivar of apple, known for its distinct shape, color, and flavor (e.g., Red Delicious, Golden Delicious).
Synonyms: (Specific to apple varieties) Red Delicious, Golden Delicious (no general synonyms as it's a specific name)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to a specific type; one might list other apple varieties as contrasting examples: Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The aromas wafted from the kitchen, promising a delicious meal to come." (From a work of fiction, illustrating sensory delight)
"He found a sort of delicious irony in the situation, a twist of fate that was almost too perfect." (From a novel, illustrating figurative enjoyment)
Newspapers:
"Local restaurant wins award for its delicious new seafood dish." (Daily Nation)
"The politician's gaffe provided delicious fodder for late-night talk shows." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Our comprehensive guide to making the most delicious homemade bread." (Allrecipes.com)
"Fans are finding delicious clues embedded in the latest superhero movie trailer." (IGN.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"That cake looks delicious!" (Line from a cooking show on Netflix)
"The band delivered a deliciously complex guitar solo that left the audience spellbound." (Concert review on Pitchfork)
"Just finished that new game – the plot twists were delicious!" (Tweet on X)
General Public Discourse:
"Mmm, this coffee is delicious today." (Casual conversation)
"She told me the most deliciously scandalous gossip yesterday." (Informal chat among friends)
"The kids had a delicious time at the park, despite the rain." (Parent describing children's enjoyment)
10 Quotes Using Delicious
"There is nothing more delicious than the first kiss." (George Bernard Shaw)
"What a delicious evening when the whole house is filled with music and conversation!" (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"Revenge is a dish best served cold." It is a delicious dish. (Often attributed to the French, popularized by various sources like Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)
"Knowledge is delicious to the soul." (Bible, Proverbs 24:13)
"Friendship is a delicious thing." (Lord Byron)
"There is a delicious torment in knowing something and having to keep it secret." (Oscar Wilde)
"Hope is a delicious agony." (Charles Bukowski)
"Life is delicious when you enjoy what you have." (Pablo Picasso)
"Laughter is a delicious release." (Erma Bombeck)
"And when the night is, as it should be, delicious, what then?" (Dorothy Parker)
Etymology
The word "delicious" has a very fitting history! It comes from words that mean "delight" or "pleasure."
Let's break it down:
It traces back to the Late Latin word "deliciosus," which meant "delicious" or "delicate."
"Deliciosus" itself came from the Latin word "delicia" (which was often used in its plural form, "deliciae"), meaning "delight," "pleasure," or "allurement."
And "delicia" is linked to the Latin verb "delicere," meaning "to allure" or "to entice." This verb combines "de-" (which can mean "away" or "completely") and "lacere" (meaning "to lure" or "to deceive"). So, it's like being completely drawn in by something pleasurable.
The English word "delicious" made its way into the language from Old French ("delicios" or "délicieux") during the Middle English period.
The first known use of "delicious" in English dates back to before 1325, and its original meaning was very much about being "delightful to the senses" or "pleasing in the highest degree," especially in terms of taste or smell. So, right from the start, it described things that bring great pleasure to our senses.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Delicious
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "delicious" or its synonyms for similar effect:
Deliciously ironic: Describing a situation that is amusingly or surprisingly contradictory.
Delicious secret: A secret that is particularly enjoyable or satisfying to keep or share.
Delicious morsel: A small, delightful piece of food.
A taste of something delicious: Experiencing a small but highly enjoyable part of something.
Make something deliciously clear: To state something so plainly that it leaves no doubt, often with a hint of satisfaction.
A delicious prospect: An appealing or exciting possibility for the future.
A delectable treat: Something that is very pleasing to eat.
Scrumptious meal: A very tasty and satisfying meal.
Palatable truth: A truth that is acceptable or easy to swallow, even if difficult.
A truly appetizing offer: An extremely attractive proposition.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of delicious from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
