bloom

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Derived terms 1.2.1.3 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Synonyms 1.3.1.2 Translations 1.4 Etymology 3 1.4.1 Noun 1.4.1.1 Translations 1.4.1.2 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -uːm

[edit] Etymology 1

via Middle English from Old Norse blóm

[edit] Noun

bloom (plural blooms)

1. A blossom; the flower of a plant; an expanded bud.
2. Flowers, collectively.
3. (uncountable) The opening of flowers in general; the state of blossoming or of having the flowers open.

   The cherry trees are in bloom.

4. A state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor/vigour; an opening to higher perfection, analogous to that of buds into blossoms.

   the bloom of youth

5. The delicate, powdery coating upon certain growing or newly-gathered fruits or leaves, as on grapes, plums, etc.
6. Anything giving an appearance of attractive freshness.
7. The clouded appearance which varnish sometimes takes upon the surface of a picture.
8. A yellowish deposit or powdery coating which appears on well-tanned leather. (Knight.)
9. (mineralogy) A popular term for a bright-hued variety of some minerals.

   the rose-red cobalt bloom

10. A white area of cocoa butter that forms on the surface of chocolate when warmed and cooled.

[edit] Synonyms

• (flower of a plant): blossom, flower
• (opening of flowers): blossom, flower
• (anything giving an appearance of attractive freshness): flush, glow

[edit] Derived terms

• bloomy
• in bloom

[edit] Translations

blossom See blossom

flowers, collectively See flower

[edit] Etymology 2

From Middle English bloom (“‘a blossom’”)

[edit] Verb

to bloom (third-person singular simple present blooms, present participle blooming, simple past and past participle bloomed)

1. (transitive) To cause to blossom; to make flourish.
2. (transitive) To bestow a bloom upon; to make blooming or radiant.
3. (intransitive) Of a plant, to produce blooms; to open its blooms.
4. (intransitive, figuratively) Of a person, business, etc, to flourish.

[edit] Synonyms

• (open its blooms): blossom, flower
• (flourish) blossom, flourish, thrive

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 3

From Old English blōma

[edit] Noun

bloom (plural blooms)

1. The spongy mass of metal formed in a furnace by the smelting process.
   • 1957, H.R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry, p. 26:

     These metallic bodies gradually increasing in volume finally conglomerate into a larger mass, the bloom, which is extracted from the furnace with tongs.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

• blooming