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delicious
/dɪˈlɪʃ.əs/
very tasty
The chocolate cake was absolutely delicious.
The cake had a very pleasant and enjoyable taste.
neutral
Having a very pleasant, sweet, or savory taste; highly enjoyable to the senses, especially taste.
She baked a delicious apple pie for dessert.
The apple pie had a very pleasant taste.
This restaurant serves the most delicious sushi I've ever tasted.
The sushi at this restaurant is extremely enjoyable to eat.
Often used to describe food or drinks, but can also describe experiences that are highly enjoyable in a sensory way.
Collocations
delicious meala meal that tastes very gooddelicious aromaa pleasant smell that makes food seem appealingtaste deliciousto have a very pleasant flavor
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'very'
Instead of saying 'very delicious', use stronger adjectives like 'exquisite', 'heavenly', or 'divine' for emphasis.
Gold Rule
Use with food or sensory experiences
The word 'delicious' primarily describes food, drinks, or other sensory experiences that are highly enjoyable to taste or smell.
Word Origin
From Latin *deliciosus* ('full of delight'), from *delicia* ('delight, pleasure'), which evolved into Old French *delicios* and then Middle English *delicious*. The sense of 'pleasing to the taste' emerged in the 14th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in everyday speech to describe food or drinks. Avoid using it for non-food items unless describing a highly enjoyable sensory experience (e.g., 'a delicious scent').
Word Breakdown
delic-
delight or pleasure
root-ous
full of
suffixEnglish Dictionary