lux ‧ u ‧ ry /ˈlʌkʃ ə ri/ BrE AmE noun ( plural luxuries )
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: luxurie , from Latin luxuria 'too great quantity' ]
1 . [uncountable] very great comfort and pleasure, such as you get from expensive food, beautiful houses, cars etc
in luxury
She stole to keep her boyfriend in luxury.
He was leading a life of luxury in Australia.
luxury hotel/car/home etc (=expensive and large)
We stayed in a five-star luxury hotel.
The dress is lambswool – pure luxury.
2 . [countable] something expensive that you do not need, but you buy for pleasure and enjoyment OPP necessity :
luxuries like chocolate and perfume
3 . afford/have/enjoy the luxury of something to have something that is very pleasant or convenient, that you are not always able to have:
For the first time in three years, they actually had the luxury of a whole day together.
⇨ in the lap of luxury at ↑ lap 1 (5)
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ great luxury
She was used to a life of great luxury.
▪ pure/sheer luxury (=used when you want to emphasize that something gives great comfort and pleasure )
The blouse was satin, and felt like pure luxury.
▪ the ultimate luxury (=something you consider a very great luxury)
A hot tub in your own back yard is the ultimate luxury.
▪ comparative luxury (=comfortable when compared to other things)
We were glad to return to the comparative luxury of our tent away from the rain.
■ luxury + NOUN
▪ a luxury hotel/home/apartment
They stayed at luxury hotels during their trip.
▪ a luxury car
The manager drove a luxury car.
▪ a luxury ship/yacht
He'd booked a holiday on a luxury cruise ship.
▪ a luxury holiday
The first prize in the competition is a luxury holiday for two in Jamaica.
▪ luxury items/goods (=expensive things)
At Christmas we try to afford a few luxury items.
■ verbs
▪ live in luxury
While some people live in luxury, most are struggling to find enough money to live on.
■ phrases
▪ a life of luxury
It was difficult to give up a life of luxury.
▪ the lap of luxury (=a very comfortable situation, especially compared to other situations or other people)
After camping for a week, my own bed felt like the lap of luxury.
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The foreigners lived in the lap of luxury.
▪ a touch of luxury (=something that makes something seem more pleasurable and comfortable)
Leather chairs added a touch of luxury to the room.
▪ something is the height of luxury (=something that is extremely comfortable and gives you a lot of pleasure)
If you want bathtime to be the height of luxury, you will be inspired by our latest range of shower accessories.