First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
profuse
adjective pro·fuse \prə-ˈfyüs, prō-\
: given, produced, or existing in large amounts
Full Definition of PROFUSE
1
: pouring forth liberally : extravagant <profuse in their thanks>
2
: exhibiting great abundance : bountiful <a profuse harvest>
— pro·fuse·ly adverb
— pro·fuse·ness noun
See profuse defined for English-language learners
See profuse defined for kids
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Origin of PROFUSE
Middle English, from Latin profusus, past participle of profundere to pour forth, from pro- forth + fundere to pour — more at found
Synonym Discussion of PROFUSE
profuse, lavish, prodigal, luxuriant, lush, exuberant mean giving or given out in great abundance. profuse implies pouring forth without restraint <profuse apologies>. lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion <a lavish party>. prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources <prodigal spending>. luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance <a luxuriant beard>. lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance <a lush green lawn>. exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly <an exuberant imagination>.
Rhymes with PROFUSE
Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose
PROFUSELY Defined for Kids
profuse
adjective pro·fuse \prə-ˈfyüs\
Definition of PROFUSE for Kids
: very plentiful
— pro·fuse·ly adverb <She apologized profusely.>
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