bloom
verbEtymology From Middle English bloom (“a blossom”).
9 senses
- 1To cause to blossom; to make flourish.
- 2To bestow a bloom upon; to make blooming or radiant.
- 3Of a plant, to produce blooms; to open its blooms.
- 4To spread; to slowly expand like a field of flowers that…
- 5Of a person, business, etc, to flourish; to be in a…
- 6To bring out the flavor of a spice by cooking it in oil.
- 7To develop a layer of bloom (white, spotty areas of…
- 8To let carbon dioxide to escape from coffee in order to…
- 9To hydrate ingredients (such as gelatin or yeast) before…
To cause to blossom; to make flourish.
- Charitable affection bloomed them.[1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
To bestow a bloom upon; to make blooming or radiant.
- The Tree of Life[…]blooming Ambrosial Fruit Of vegetable Gold.1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
- Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? / Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,— / While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, / And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; [...]1819 September 19, John Keats, “To Autumn”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, stanza 3, page 138:
Of a plant, to produce blooms; to open its blooms.
- A flower which once / In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, / Began to bloom.1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Figuratively To spread; to slowly expand like a field of flowers that blossom in fits and spurts.
- Shadows bloomed over the yard.
- Anger bloomed up from his throat.
Figuratively Of a person, business, etc, to flourish; to be in a state of healthful, growing youth and vigour; to show beauty and freshness.
- Nurse Cramer had a cute nose and a radiant, blooming complexion dotted with fetching sprays of adorable freckles that Yossarian detested.1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 171:
- The attacking three have also been allowed to bloom. Liberated from deep defensive duties Eden Hazard has become more expressive, more obviously, flashily complete.2017 May 13, Barney Ronay, “Antonio Conte’s brilliance has turned Chelsea’s pop-up team into champions”, in the Guardian:
1 more example
- A better country blooms to view, / Beneath a brighter sky.a. 1788, John Logan, A Tale: