EPICUREAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Epicurean mean? 

• EPICUREAN (noun)
  The noun EPICUREAN has 1 sense:

1. a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)

  Familiarity information: EPICUREAN used as a noun is very rare.

• EPICUREAN (adjective)
  The adjective EPICUREAN has 3 senses:

1. of Epicurus or epicureanism

2. devoted to pleasure

3. displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses

  Familiarity information: EPICUREAN used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EPICUREAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

bon vivant; epicure; epicurean; foodie; gastronome; gourmet

Hypernyms ("epicurean" is a kind of...):

sensualist (a person who enjoys sensuality)

Derivation:

epicurean (devoted to pleasure)

• EPICUREAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of Epicurus or epicureanism

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

Epicurean philosophy

Pertainym:

epicureanism (a doctrine of hedonism that was defended by several ancient Greek philosophers)

Epicurus (Greek philosopher who believed that the world is a random combination of atoms and that pleasure is the highest good (341-270 BC))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Devoted to pleasure

Synonyms:

epicurean; hedonic; hedonistic

Context example:

epicurean pleasures

Similar:

indulgent (characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone)

Derivation:

epicure; epicurean (a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses

Synonyms:

epicurean; luxuriant; luxurious; sybaritic; voluptuary; voluptuous

Context example:

a chinchilla robe of sybaritic lavishness

Similar:

indulgent (characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone)

 Context examples 

This he unpacked with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble lodging-house mahogany.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)