I. ˈrich adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English riche, from Old English rīce; akin to Old High German rīhhi rich, Old Norse rīkr, Gothic reiks mighty, ruler, Old English rīce kingdom, realm, rule, Old High German rīhhi, Old Norse rīki, Gothic reiki; all from prehistoric Germanic borrowings from Celtic words whose root is represented by Old Irish rī (gen. rīg ) king — more at royal
1. obsolete : possessed of great temporal power : mighty
2. : possessing or controlling great wealth : wealthy
rich bankers
3.
a. : possessed of high intrinsic or estimated value
rich jewels
the best uranium, that is to say the richest rock in the world — J.D.Hillaby
b. : abounding in natural wealth (as ore, water, productive soil) — often used with in
a kingdom rich in forests and mines and lush pastureland
4.
a.
(1) : burdened with every luxury : sumptuous
a rich banquet
(2) : gorgeously and pleasingly showy
rich garments
: splendidly costly
rich tapestries
(3) : magnificently impressive : gorgeously replete with pomp and ceremony
a rich military funeral
b.
(1) : elaborately adorned : sumptuously ornamented
a rich altar
(2) : fabricated from the best material and with the best skill and care
rich furnishing
rich interior decorations
5.
a.
(1) of color : vivid but pleasing ; specifically : of high or very high saturation and commonly of low lightness
a rich red
(2) : warmly and pleasingly colorful
a rich landscape
a rich sunset
b. : full and mellow in tone and quality
a rich voice
rich music
c.
(1) : possessed of strong pleasant fragrance
rich perfume
(2) : pleasantly pungent
a rich barnyard odor
6.
a. : abundant , plentiful — often used with in
a mixture rich in lime
or postposed and hyphenated
an iron- rich soil
manganese- rich ore
b. : producing abundantly or yielding large returns : productive
a rich mine
rich farmland
7.
a. : abundantly supplied with plant nutrients
rich soil
b. : abounding in resinous heartwood
rich stumps
c. : containing a large proportion of cementing material
rich mortar
rich concrete
rich plaster
d. : containing a pronounced complement of fat or fatty substances
turkey, pork, and other rich meats
rich eggnogs
e. : high in the combustible component — used especially of a fuel mixture for an internal-combustion engine
the rich mixtures are generally used at high power output — Aircraft Power Plants
— opposed to lean
8.
a. : high in entertainment
a rich first act
: strongly amusing
rich humor
b. : pregnant with meaning, import, or significance
rich words
rich allusions
c. : lush
rich foliage
rich meadows
9. : containing coarse, shocking, or scurrilous expressions
rich abuse
10. : pure or very nearly pure
rich lime
11. : plastic — used in ceramics of clay
Synonyms:
wealthy , affluent , opulent : applied to persons and to groups, rich and wealthy are often interchangeable in indicating possession of considerable wealth
was indeed rich, according to the standards of the Square; nay, wealthy — Arnold Bennett
rich may occasionally apply to greater possession than wealthy
a wealthy but not a rich man — Times Literary Supplement
but it is more likely to be used in extended senses than wealthy
lived alone, poor in worldly goods to the verge of distress, but rich beyond avarice in his vast and unique collection of snow-crystal pictures — W.J.Humphreys
wealthy may suggest along with the fact of ownership its established, accustomed, or lasting enjoyment
many of the wealthy supporters of the drama in Providence bought boxes by the season and were served wines and sherbets between the acts — American Guide Series: Rhode Island
affluent often is interchangeable with wealthy but may suggest a comfortably increasing wealth
ride in larger and larger cars so that we may seem more affluent than we actually are — J.D.Adams
opulent , applied less often to persons than to things, may suggest extreme wealth attended with lavish, luxuriant, or splendid expenditure
an opulent frock of gold brocade — Jean Stafford
an opulent blue mink coat — Time
an opulent and glittering eastern throne — John Buchan
II. noun
( plural rich or riches ˈrichə̇z)
1. plural rich : a rich person
the rich has many friends — Prov 14:20 (Revised Standard Version)
— usually used collectively
respected by both rich and poor
the rich all belong to the same clubs here
2. riches plural
[Middle English (singular or plural), from richesse richness, wealth, from Old French, from riche rich, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English rīce rich — more at rich ]
: something that makes one rich : rich possessions : abundant means : wealth
spiritual riches
what care I in riches to wallow — Robert Burns