bloom·ing
(blōṓmĭng)
[Probably a euphemism for bloody.]
adverb adjective
Chiefly British Slang- Used as an intensive: a blooming hot day; a blooming idiot.
bloom
1 (blōōm)
[Middle English blom, from Old Norse blōm.]
noun
- The flower of a plant.
- Something resembling the flower of a plant: “Her hair was caught all to one side in a great bloom of frizz” (Anne Tyler)
- The condition of being in flower: a rose in full bloom.
- A condition or time of vigor, freshness, and beauty; prime: “the radiant bloom of Greek genius” (Edith Hamilton)
- A fresh, rosy complexion: “She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom” (Jane Austen)
- A waxy or powdery whitish to bluish coating on the surface of certain plant parts, as on cabbage leaves or on a plum or grape.
- A similar coating, as on newly minted coins.
- Grayish blotches or streaks on the surface of chocolate produced by the formation of cocoa butter crystals.
- Chemistry See efflorescence
- Glare that is caused by a shiny object reflecting too much light into a television camera.
- A visible, colored area on the surface of bodies of water caused by excessive planktonic growth.
verb: bloomed, bloom·ing, blooms.
intransitive verb
- To bear a flower or flowers.
- To support plant life in abundance: rains that made the yard bloom.
- To shine; glow.
- To grow or flourish with youth and vigor.
- To appear or expand suddenly: White vapor bloomed from the side of the rocket's fuel tank.
transitive verb
- To cause to flourish.
- Obsolete To cause to flower.
derivatives
- blooḿy
- adjective
synonyms:
bloom1blossom, efflorescence, florescence, flower, flush1prime These nouns denote a condition or time of greatest vigor and freshness: beauty in full bloom; the blossom of a great romance; the efflorescence of humanitarianism; the florescence of Greek civilization; in the flower of youthful enthusiasm; in the flush of their success; the prime of life.
