rich Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun people who have possessions and wealth (considered as a group)
    rich people.
    • only the very rich benefit from this legislation
  2. adjective possessing material wealth
    • her father is extremely rich
    • many fond hopes are pinned on rich uncles
  3. adjective having an abundant supply of desirable qualities or substances (especially natural resources)
    • blessed with a land rich in minerals
    • rich in ideas
    • rich with cultural interest
  4. adjective satellite of great worth or quality
    • a rich collection of antiques
  5. adjective satellite marked by great fruitfulness
    productive; fertile; fat.
    • fertile farmland
    • a fat land
    • a productive vineyard
    • rich soil
  6. adjective satellite strong; intense
    deep.
    • deep purple
    • a rich red
  7. adjective satellite very productive
    • rich seams of coal
  8. adjective high in mineral content; having a high proportion of fuel to air
    • a rich vein of copper", "a rich gas mixture
  9. adjective suggestive of or characterized by great expense
    • a rich display
  10. adjective satellite containing plenty of fat, or eggs, or sugar
    • rich desserts
    • they kept gorging on rich foods
  11. adjective satellite marked by richness and fullness of flavor
    robust; full-bodied; racy.
    • a rich ruby port
    • full-bodied wines
    • a robust claret
    • the robust flavor of fresh-brewed coffee
  12. adjective satellite pleasantly full and mellow
    • a rich tenor voice
  13. adjective satellite affording an abundant supply
    plenteous; plentiful; copious; ample.
    • had ample food for the party
    • copious provisions
    • food is plentiful
    • a plenteous grape harvest
    • a rich supply

WordNet

Rich adjective
Etymology
OE. riche, AS. rice rich, powerful; akin to OS. riki, D. rijk, G. reich, OHG. rihhi, Icel. rikr, Sw. rik, Dan. rig, Goth. reiks; from a word meaning, ruler, king, probably borrowed from Celtic, and akin to L. rex, regis, king, regere to guide, rule. See Right, and cf. Derrick, Enrich, Rajah, Riches, Royal.
Wordforms
comparative Richer ; superlative Richest
Definitions
  1. Having an abundance of material possessions; possessed of a large amount of property; well supplied with land, goods, or money; wealthy; opulent; affluent; -- opposed to poor. "Rich merchants." Chaucer.
    The rich [person] hath many friends. Prov. xiv. 20.
    As a thief, bent to unhoard the cash Of some rich burgher. Milton.
  2. Hence, in general, well supplied; abounding; abundant; copious; bountiful; as, a rich treasury; a rich entertainment; a rich crop.
    If life be short, it shall be glorious; Each minute shall be rich in some great action. Rowe.
    The gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. Milton.
  3. Yielding large returns; productive or fertile; fruitful; as, rich soil or land; a rich mine.
  4. Composed of valuable or costly materials or ingredients; procured at great outlay; highly valued; precious; sumptuous; costly; as, a rich dress; rich silk or fur; rich presents.
    Like to rich and various gems. Milton.
  5. Abounding in agreeable or nutritive qualities; -- especially applied to articles of food or drink which are high-seasoned or abound in oleaginous ingredients, or are sweet, luscious, and high-flavored; as, a rich dish; rich cream or soup; rich pastry; rich wine or fruit.
    Sauces and rich spices are fetched from India. Baker.
  6. Not faint or delicate; vivid; as, a rich color.
  7. Full of sweet and harmonius sounds; as, a rich voice; rich music.
  8. Abounding in beauty; gorgeous; as, a rich landscape; rich scenery.
  9. Abounding in humor; exciting amusement; entertaining; as, the scene was a rich one; a rich incident or character. Colloq. Thackeray. ✍ Rich is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, rich-fleeced, rich-jeweled, rich-laden, rich-stained. Syn. -- Wealthy; affluent; opulent; ample; copious; abundant; plentiful; fruitful; costly; sumptuous; precious; generous; luscious.
Rich transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To enrich. Obs. Gower.

Webster 1913