rich adjective, noun definition, meaning - what is rich adjective, noun in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionaries Online

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English definition of “rich”

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adjective uk   us   /rɪtʃ/

rich adjective (MONEY)

A2 having a lot of money or valuable possessions: He's the third richest man in Britain. They're one of the world's richest nations. He is determined to get rich quickly.
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rich adjective (HAVING A LOT OF STH)

B2 containing a large amount of a valuable natural substance such as coal, oil, or wood: The region is rich in minerals and coal deposits. The country has vast oil reserves and rich deposits of other minerals.-rich used in compounds to say that someone has a lot of a particular thing, or that something contains a lot of a particular substance : This type of pension plan is popular with business owners or property-rich investors. One of the mysteries of our times is why some oil-rich countries have so many poor living in them. a recipe for a vitamin-rich vegetable souprich in sth B2 containing a lot of something good or useful: Pineapple juice is rich in vitamins A and B. The English language is rich in vocabulary. Rich land or soil contains a large amount of substances that help plants to grow: the richest arable land in the country containing a lot of exciting events or experiences and therefore very interesting: He has written a book about the island's rich history. She had a rich and varied life and met many famous and exciting people. If the style of something such as a piece of furniture or a building is rich, it contains a lot of decoration: The temple is noted for its rich carvings.

rich adjective (ATTRACTIVE)

A rich colour, sound, smell, or taste is strong in a pleasing or attractive way: This lipstick gives long-lasting rich colour. She produced a rich, deep tone from her clarinet. The wine has a rich aromatic flavour. A rich material is very beautiful and valuable: She wore a velvet skirt and a rich brocade jacket.
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rich adjective (FOOD)

B2 If food is rich, it contains a large amount of oil, butter, eggs, or cream: This chocolate mousse is too rich for me.

rich adjective (CRITICISM)

[after verb] used to describe someone's opinions when that person has the same bad qualities as the person they are criticizing: The education minister's criticism of the new exam system seems rich, considering it was he who demanded the changes in the first place. "He said I was looking rather fat." "That's a bit rich coming from him."


noun [plural] uk   us   /rɪtʃ/
the rich C1 rich people considered together as a group: The resort is frequented by the rich and famous.
(Definition of rich adjective, noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
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