Delicious \De*li"cious\, a. [OF. delicieus, F. d['e]licieux, L. deliciosus, fr. deliciae delight, fr. delicere to allure. See Delight.]

1. Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful to the senses, especially to the taste; charming.

Some delicious landscape. --Coleridge.

One draught of spring's delicious air. --Keble.

Were not his words delicious? --Tennyson.

2. Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate. [Obs.]

Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury. --Milton.

Syn: Delicious, Delightful.

Usage: Delicious refers to the pleasure derived from certain of the senses, particularly the taste and smell; as, delicious food; a delicious fragrance. Delightful may also refer to most of the senses (as, delightful music; a delightful prospect; delightful sensations), but has a higher application to matters of taste, feeling, and sentiment; as, a delightful abode, conversation, employment; delightful scenes, etc.

Like the rich fruit he sings, delicious in decay. --Smith.

No spring, nor summer, on the mountain seen, Smiles with gay fruits or with delightful green. --Addison.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)