bloom
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈblüm 
1
: a mass of wrought iron from the forge or puddling furnace
2
: a bar of iron or steel hammered or rolled from an ingot
bloom
2 of 3noun (2)
plural blooms
1
a
: blossom sense 1a, flower
b
: the flowering state
the roses are in bloom
c
: a period of flowering
the spring bloom
d(1)
: a rapid and excessive growth of a plankton population (as of algae or dinoflagellates) compare red tide
(2)
: a large aggregation of free-swimming organisms : swarm
a jellyfish bloom
2
a
: a state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor
b
: a state or time of high development or achievement
a career in full bloom
3
: a surface coating or appearance: such as
a
: a delicate powdery coating on some fruits and leaves
b
: a rosy appearance of the cheeks
broadly : an outward evidence of freshness or healthy vigor
c
: a cloudiness on a film of varnish or lacquer
d
: a grayish discoloration on chocolate
e
: glare caused by an object reflecting too much light into a television camera
bloom
3 of 3verb
bloomed; blooming; blooms
intransitive verb
1
a
: to produce or yield flowers
b
: to support abundant plant life
make the desert bloom
2
a(1)
: to mature into achievement of one's potential
(2)
: to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, or excellence
b
: to shine out : glow
c
: to become more apparent or fully expressed (as in flavor or aroma)
In all classic sauces and dressings, good oil is the base from which delectable flavors bloom.
Renée Loux Underkoffler
Renée Loux Underkoffler3
: to appear or occur unexpectedly or in remarkable quantity or degree
4
: to become densely populated with microorganisms and especially plankton —used of bodies of water
transitive verb
1
obsolete : to cause to bloom
2
: to give bloom to
Synonyms
Noun (2)
- blossom
- florescence
- floruit
- flower
- flush
- heyday
- high noon
- prime
- salad days
- springtime
Verb
- blossom
- blow
- burgeon
- bourgeon
- effloresce
- flower
- unfold
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb flowers blooming in the garden Their love was just beginning to bloom.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English blome lump of metal, from Old English blōma
Noun (2)
Middle English blome, from Old Norse blōm; akin to Old English blōwan to blossom — more at blow
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing bloom
Kids Definition
bloom 1 of 2
noun
ˈblüm
1
: flower entry 1 sense 1
2
: the period or state of producing flowers
The bushes are in bloom.
3
: a condition or time of beauty, freshness, and strength
the bloom of youth
4
: the rosy color of the cheek
bloom
2 of 2verb
bloomed; blooming
1
: to produce flowers This tree blooms in the spring.
2
: to change, grow, or develop fully The children quickly bloomed.
Biographical Definition
Bloom
biographical name
ˈblüm
Harold 1930–2019 American literary critic
bloom 1 of 2
noun
1
as in blooming
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement a handsome young man in the full bloom of youth Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- blooming
- blossom
- flower
- prime
- flowering
- springtime
- florescence
- revival
- blossoming
- heyday
- flush
- autumn
- pinnacle
- salad days
- floruit
- high noon
- zenith
- peak
- efflorescence
- summit
- apex
- meridian
- glory
- golden age
- climax
- grandeur
- acme
- recovery
- belle epoque
- splendor
- silver age
- Indian summer
- belle époque
- comeback
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decay
- decline
- downfall
- bottom
- wilting
- nadir
- withering
- shriveling
- shrivelling
2
as in blush
a rosy appearance (of the cheeks) after a snowball fight, she came inside with a bloom on her cheeks Synonyms & Similar Words
- blush
- glow
- color
- brightness
- flush
- pinkness
- brilliance
- rosiness
- reddishness
- redness
- ruddiness
- sanguineness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- whiteness
- paleness
- pallor
- greenness
- pastiness
- wanness
- sallowness
- pallidness
- greenishness
3
as in flower
the usually showy plant part that produces seeds the rosebush produces blooms only in midsummer Synonyms & Similar Words
- flower
- blossom
- bud
- floret
- floweret
- posy
- flowerette
- nosegay
- garland
- bouquet
- corsage
- wreath
- boutonniere
- lei
- spray
- arrangement
bloom
2 of 2verb
1
as in to flower
to produce flowers forsythias only bloom at the beginning of spring Synonyms & Similar Words
- flower
- blossom
- unfold
- burgeon
- leaf
- bourgeon
- bud
- leave
- effloresce
- blow
- open
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wilt
- fade
- shrivel
- wither
- die
- dry up
- perish
- drop
- expire
2
as in to blush
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) she arrived at the house, blooming from her vigorous walk Synonyms & Similar Words
- blush
- glow
- flush
- crimson
- redden
- color
- turn color
- ruddle
- rouge
- incarnadine
- faze
- disconcert
- humiliate
- mortify
- abash
- chagrin
- embarrass
- discomfit