I. prəˈfyüs, prōˈ- adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin profusus, past participle of profundere to pour forth, pour out, from pro- forth + fundere to pour — more at pro- , found
1. : pouring forth liberally : exceedingly or excessively generous : extravagant
were both profuse in their thanks — Collier's Year Book
2. : exhibiting great abundance : overly plentiful : bountiful
contains the most valuable minerals, in a profuse variety — H.T.Buckle
Synonyms:
lavish , prodigal , luxuriant , lush , exuberant : profuse suggests an unrestrained abundance, often as of something poured out or gushing out very fully, freely, or copiously
the milk is scanty during the first two or three days, but becomes profuse, in most cases, by the third and fourth day — Morris Fishbein
pourest thy full heart in profuse strains of unpremeditated art — P.B.Shelley
his court became as crowded and profuse as his grandfather's. Money was recklessly borrowed and as recklessly squandered — J.R.Green
lavish may suggest an unstinted, extravagant, or munificent profusion or outpouring
the lavish box lunch where baked ham, fried chicken, and home-baked bread are routine fare — C.W.Morton
every comfort and luxury that a wealthy and lavish old grandfather thought fit to provide — W.M.Thackeray
five hundred million dollars a year, which go into lavish expenditure on health, education, and economic development — Andrew Boyd
prodigal may apply to reckless lavishness and extravagance seeming to lead to depletion or exhaustion of supplies
wildly prodigal of color, the new sun then sketched a wide band of throbbing red-gold across less lofty glaciers and snow fields — F.V.W.Mason
the table spread with opulent hospitality and careless profusion — the baked ham at one end and the saddle of roast mutton at the other, with fried chicken, oysters, crabs, sweet potatoes, jellies, custards — a prodigal feast that only outdoor stomachs could manage — V.L.Parrington
luxuriant may suggest a splendid, colorful, pleasing rich abundance
a luxuriant growth of native iris, trumpet vines, and water hyacinths line its banks — American Guide Series: Louisiana
rich and luxuriant beauty; a beauty that shone with deep and vivid tints; a bright complexion, eyes possessing intensity both of depth and glow, and hair already of a deep, glossy brown — Nathaniel Hawthorne
lush may suggest a rich, easy, soft luxuriance
a Jersey cow standing belly-deep in a lush meadow — Joseph Mitchell
the fabulous period of the Nineties, that lush, plush, glittering era with all its sentimentality and opulence and ostentation — Sara H. Hay
exuberant suggests fruitful abundance marked by vivacity or rampant vitality
an exuberant nature pouring out its wealth in spendthrift fashion — V.L.Parrington
she was in exuberant spirits, and the softest colors of flame danced in her lips and eyes and informed the texture of her hair — Elinor Wylie
houses frescoed, antlered, flowered and curlicued in exuberant outburst of Tyrolean design — Claudia Cassidy
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin profusus, past participle
1. obsolete : to pour forth or give freely
2. obsolete : to spend too liberally : lavish , squander