blossom
/ˈblɒs(ə)m
/noun
1A flower or a mass of flowers, especially on a tree or bush: tiny white blossoms [mass noun]: the slopes were ablaze with almond blossom...
- As the large, loose clusters of tiny greenish flower blossoms fade, the flower stalks get longer and by midsummer are covered with fuzzy purple or pink hairs.
- Jim sat down under a flowering tree in a patch of tiny white blossoms and faced the shimmering waters of the river.
- If you like edible flowers, try some of the tiny white blossoms sprinkled onto salads.
1.1 [mass noun] The state or period of flowering: fruit trees in blossom...
- It might be safely viewed with all its appendages of prosperity and beauty, its rich pastures, spreading flocks, orchard in blossom, and light column of smoke ascending.
- Mr Wilkinson said: ‘It will all look very nice when it has been completed - the trees look very nice and I am surprised they are in blossom.’
- The small orchard at the farmstead just north of Carter Road is in blossom.
verb [no object]
1(Of a tree or bush) produce flowers or masses of flowers: a garden in which roses blossom (as adjective blossoming) blossoming magnolia...
- We slipped through St Bartholomew's churchyard, snowdrops fading, the fruit and nut trees blossoming, and channelled down a track towards the River Ure.
- The Flowering Cherry tree will blossom at this time of the year, each year, as a symbol of remembrance.
- Spring is the best season in Tokyo, with cherry trees blossoming beautifully after the winter rest.
Synonyms
bloom, flower, be in flower, come into flower/blossom, open (out), burgeon, bud, sprout, mature, burst forth, unfold
1.1Mature or develop in a promising or healthy way: their friendship blossomed into romance (as noun blossoming) the blossoming of experimental theatre...
- He would be departing just when he has finally blossomed into a mature and consistent world-class all-rounder.
- A spirited young girl who suffered horrific injuries in a freak horse accident has blossomed into a promising athlete with a bright future.
- Slowly it continued, and our first hesitant kiss was finally reached, although I had to make that final step because he wouldn't, and our relationship developed and blossomed into love.
Synonyms
develop, grow, mature, progress, evolve, burst forth, come to fruition;
flourish, thrive, get on well, prosper, succeed, be successful, make headway, bloom, burgeon
informal go great guns
Derivatives
blossomy
- As my regular shampoo was sitting in the bottom of the occupied shower cubicle I had to use the nearest one available… one of Adelle's… some flowery, blossomy scented thingy with added hair fortifier to give me body and lift.
- There's something very English and blossomy about it.
- While it's not customary to design a room using scents, a blossomy smelling candle next to a withered, old couch can definitely lift the mood of the entire room.
Origin
Old English blōstm, blōstma (noun), blōstmian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bloesem, also to bloom1.
bloom from Middle English:
The early word for ‘flower’ in English was blossom. Old Norse blóm ‘flower, blossom’, was the source of bloom in English, which shares a base with the verb blow (Old English) ‘to burst into flower’, now most often met in overblown (early 17th century). A bloomer (late 19th century) is from the use of blooming for ‘bloody’ in blooming error and is thought to be Australian prison slang. In the 1930s another bloomer entered the vocabulary as a name for a type of loaf but it is not clear where from.