Dictionary

blossom en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˈblɒs.m̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˈblɔs.m̩] (Australia, New-Zealand)
• [ˈblɑ.sm̩] (General-American)
• /ˈblɔs.əm/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /ˈblɑ.səm/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈblɒs.əm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English blosme, from Old English blostm, blostma, from Proto-Germanic *blōstmô (compare West Frisian blossem, Dutch bloesem; related to *blōstaz [compare German Blust]), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃-s- (“bloom, flower”), from *bʰleh₃- (“to bloom, to thrive”). Cognate with Albanian bleron (“to blossom, to thrive”), Latin flōs (“flower”), Flōra (“goddess of plants”). See more at blow (etymology 4).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A flower, especially one indicating that a fruit tree is fruiting; (collectively) a mass of such flowers.
   • Foppiſh and fantaſtick Ornaments are only Indications of Vice, not criminal in themſelves. Extinguiſh Vanity in the Mind, and you naturally retrench the little Superfluities of Garniture and Equipage. The Bloſſoms will fall of themſelves, when the Root that nouriſhes them is deſtroyed. 1711 March 16, Joseph Addison, Richard Steele, editors, The Spectator, volume I, number 16, London: […] S[amuel] Buckley, […]; and J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1712, →OCLC, page 89:
   • And on the moꝛowe / Moſes went in to the tabernacle: and beholde / the rod of Aaron of the houſſe of Leui was budded ⁊ bare bloſomes and almondes. 1530 January 27 (Gregorian calendar), W[illiam] T[yndale], transl., [The Pentateuch] (Tyndale Bible), Malborow [Marburg], Hesse: […] Hans Luft [actually Antwerp: Johan Hoochstraten], →OCLC, Numeri xvij:[8], folio xxxiiij, verso:
   • The blossom has come early this year.
   • Winter, spring, and summer, passed away during my labours; but I did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves—sights which before always yielded me supreme delight, so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation. 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter III, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 95:
2. (countable, uncountable) The state or season of producing such flowers.
   • The orchard is in blossom.
   • Down by the River Wye, among plum-trees in blossom, Noel had laid her baby in a hammock, and stood reading a letter: […] 1919 October, John Galsworthy, chapter I, in Saint’s Progress, London: William Heinemann, published December 1919, →OCLC, part III, 1 §, page 217:
3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that gives rich promise.
   • This beauty, in the blossom of my youth, / When my first fire knew no adulterate incense, / Nor I no way to flatter, but my fondness; / […] long did I love this lady, / Long was my travail, long my trade to win her; / With all the duty of my soul, I served her. c. 1619–1622, Philip Massinger, “A Very Woman”, in Three New Playes: viz. The Bashful Lover, Guardian, Very Woman. […], London: […] Humphrey Moseley, […], published 1655, →OCLC, act IV, scene iii; republished as W[illiam] Gifford, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, […], volume IV, London: […] [F]or G[eorge] and W[illiam] Nicol [et al.] by W[illiam] Bulmer and Co., […], 1805, →OCLC, page 317:
4. (countable, uncountable) The colour of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with sorrel and bay hairs.
   • For colour he [Nobs, a horse] was neither black-bay, brown-bay, dapple-bay, black-grey, iron-grey, sad-grey, branded-grey, sandy-grey, dapple-grey, silver-grey, dun, mouse-dun, flea-backed, flea-bitten, rount, blossom, roan, pye-bald, rubican, sorrel, cow-coloured sorrel, bright sorrel, burnt sorrel, starling-colour, tyger-colour, wolf-colour, deer-colour, cream-colour, white, grey or black. Neither was he green, like the horse which the Emperor [Septimus] Severus took from the Parthians, […] 1834–1847, Robert Southey, “A Feeble Attempt to Describe the Physical and Moral Qualities of Nobs”, in John Wood Warter, editor, The Doctor, &c., London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green and Longman, →OCLC; new edition, London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1862, →OCLC, page 358, column 2:

Forms

Deriveds

out-blossom · water blossom pea · blossomless · blossomed · reblossom · blossom-headed · crash blossom · blossomly · mayblossom · turd blossom · out-blossoming · blossomy · pease-blossom · blossomest · blossom-rock · blue blossom · blossom-faced · blossom out · pink blossom tree · blueblossom · pricot blossom · lime blossom · rum-blossom · may-blossom · imblossom · blossom-nosed · gin blossom · sperm-blossom · sperm blossom · blossoming · blossom-end rot · blossomish · apple blossom weevil · rape blossom · in blossom · blossom tree · sea blossom · cherry blossom · apple blossom · grog-blossom · blossomry · blossomcrown · peach blossom · emblossom · May blossom · orange blossom · cherry blossom front · plum blossom · snow-blossom

Translations (116)

tr çiçek (flowers on trees) · bg цъфтеж (state or season for such flowers) · cmn 花 (flowers on trees) · gl meleda (state or season for such flowers) · tg шукуфа (flowers on trees) · bg цвят (flowers on trees) · sh цвет (flowers on trees) · sh cvijet (flowers on trees) · pl kwiat (flowers on trees) · gd dìthean (flowers on trees) · fi kukinta (flowers on trees) · la flōs (flowers on trees) · zu imbali (flowers on trees) · de Blüte (state or season for such flowers) · uk ро́зквіт (blooming period or stage of development) · el ανθός (flowers on trees) · ja 花 (flowers on trees) · sh цват (flowers on trees) · nl bloeitijd (state or season for such flowers) · sh behar (flowers on trees) · hi मुकुल (flowers on trees) · fi kukat (flowers on trees) · ca floració (state or season for such flowers) · ru цвет (state or season for such flowers) · ko 꽃 (flowers on trees) · sq bleron (flowers on trees) · lb Bléi (state or season for such flowers) · fi kukinta-aika (state or season for such flowers) · uk цвіт (flowers on trees) · ang blostma (flowers on trees) · jam blazam (flowers on trees) · scn nzagarata (state or season for such flowers) · ky гүлдөп турган маал (state or season for such flowers) · uk кві́тка (flowers on trees) · hit 𒀀𒇷𒂖 (flowers on trees) · hi फूल (flowers on trees) · sh cvet (flowers on trees) · gd flùr (flowers on trees) · kw bleujen (flowers on trees) · mi puanga (flowers on trees) · ru пери́од цветения (state or season for such flowers) · ru расцве́т (blooming period or stage of development) · jam blasam (flowers on trees) · fr fleur (flowers on trees) · mi matikaotanga (state or season for such flowers) · de Blüte (flowers on trees) · zu umqhakazo (flowers on trees) · pt floração (state or season for such flowers) · sq endë (flowers on trees) · sv blomning (state or season for such flowers) · ang blostm (state or season for such flowers) · sh цвијет (flowers on trees) · cs rozkvět (state or season for such flowers) · fa شکوفه (flowers on trees) · pl kwitnienie (state or season for such flowers) · vi bông (flowers on trees) · it bocciolo (flowers on trees) · pt flor (flowers on trees) · pl okres kwitnienia (state or season for such flowers) · bo མེ་ཏོག (flowers on trees) · nl bloesem (flowers on trees) · scn zàgara (flowers on trees) · mk цвет (flowers on trees) · sv blomma (flowers on trees) · sa पुष्प (flowers on trees) · gl frol (flowers on trees) · ru цвето́к (flowers on trees) · sl cvet (flowers on trees) · my ပွင့် (flowers on trees) · ka ყვავილი (flowers on trees) · he פריחה (flowers on trees) · enm blosme (flowers on trees) · ka გაფურჩქვნა (state or season for such flowers) · tr bahar (flowers on trees) · mi pua (flowers on trees) · he פריחה (state or season for such flowers) · th ดอกไม้ (flowers on trees) · grc ἄνθος (flowers on trees) · sk kvet (flowers on trees) · uk цвіт (flowers on trees) · ro floare (flowers on trees) · nl bloei (state or season for such flowers) · be кве́тка (flowers on trees) · ar زَهْرَة (flowers on trees) · mzn وشکو (flowers on trees) · gl fror (flowers on trees) · hy ծաղիկ (flowers on trees) · nl bloesemtijd (state or season for such flowers) · pt florada (state or season for such flowers) · eo floro (flowers on trees) · ckb گەش (state or season for such flowers) · gd blàth (flowers on trees) · sh cvat (flowers on trees) · ky гүл (flowers on trees) · et õis (flowers on trees) · sh бехар (flowers on trees) · mk цут (state or season for such flowers) · th ดอก (flowers on trees) · lb Bléi (flowers on trees) · ru цвете́ние (state or season for such flowers) · fr floraison (state or season for such flowers) · scn nciurata (state or season for such flowers) · mi puāwai (flowers on trees) · es flor (flowers on trees) · ru расцве́т (state or season for such flowers) · hu virág (flowers on trees) · ota چیچك (flowers on trees) · uk цвіті́ння (state or season for such flowers) · ca flor (flowers on trees) · gl galais (state or season for such flowers) · es floración (state or season for such flowers) · cs květ (flowers on trees) · fi kukinta (state or season for such flowers) · gl chora (state or season for such flowers) · ur کھلنا (blooming period or stage of development) · de Blütezeit (blooming period or stage of development)

blossom en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˈblɒs.m̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˈblɔs.m̩] (Australia, New-Zealand)
• [ˈblɑ.sm̩] (General-American)
• /ˈblɔs.əm/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /ˈblɑ.səm/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈblɒs.əm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English blosme, from Old English blostm, blostma, from Proto-Germanic *blōstmô (compare West Frisian blossem, Dutch bloesem; related to *blōstaz [compare German Blust]), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃-s- (“bloom, flower”), from *bʰleh₃- (“to bloom, to thrive”). Cognate with Albanian bleron (“to blossom, to thrive”), Latin flōs (“flower”), Flōra (“goddess of plants”). See more at blow (etymology 4).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To have, or open into, blossoms; to bloom.
   • ANd the Loꝛde ſpake vnto Moſes ſayenge: ſpeake vnto the childern of Iſrael and take of them / foꝛ euery pꝛyncypall houſſe a rod / of their pꝛinces ouer the houſſes of their fathers: euen .xij. roddes / and wꝛyte euery mans name apon his rod. […] And his rod whom I choſe / ſhall bloſſome: So I wyll make ceaſe from me the grudgynges of the childern of Iſrael which they grudge agenſt you. 1530 January 27 (Gregorian calendar), W[illiam] T[yndale], transl., [The Pentateuch] (Tyndale Bible), Malborow [Marburg], Hesse: […] Hans Luft [actually Antwerp: Johan Hoochstraten], →OCLC, Numeri xvij:[1–2 and 5], folio xxxiiij, verso:
   • The Utricularia vulgaris or bladder-wort, a yellow pea-like flower, has blossomed in stagnant pools. 1851 June 22, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, edited by H[arrison] G[ray] O[tis] Blake, Summer: From the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau, London: T. Fisher Unwin, […], published 1884, →OCLC, page 210:
2. (intransitive) To begin to thrive or flourish.
   • A quiet, studious man, rich in the wisdom that is better than learning, the charity which calls all mankind "brother," the piety that blossoms into character, making it august and lovely. 1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, “Gossip”, in Little Women: […], 2nd part, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC, page 5:
   • Since I came back from Pomona I have done many drawings to illustrate the Inferno of Dante [Alighieri] and I find my old Italian love blossoming all over again for this greatest of all master poets, bar none. 1961 January 30, Rico Lebrun, “New Haven · Capri · Rome (1958–1960) [To David Lebrun from Los Angeles, January 30, 1961]”, in James Renner, David Lebrun, editors, In the Meridian of the Heart: Selected Letters of Rico Lebrun, Boston, Mass.: David R. Godine, […], published 2000, →ISBN, page 66:
   • In February, Mswati announced that he had recovered from Covid-19 after undergoing treatment “for a couple of days” with an undisclosed antiviral medication from Taiwan. Eswatini enjoys a blossoming diplomatic tie with Taiwan — currently the East Asian country’s only ally in Africa. 2021 June 29, Nimi Princewill and Stephanie Busari, “Officials deny King of Eswatini – Africa’s lone absolute monarch – has fled”, in CNN:

Forms

Deriveds

unblossomed · blossomingly · blossom forth · unblossoming · outblossom

Synonyms

come into bloom (have, or open into, blossoms) · come into blossom (have, or open into, blossoms) · thrive (begin to thrive or flourish) · flourish (begin to thrive or flourish) · blow (have, or open into, blossoms) · prosper (begin to thrive or flourish) · bloom (begin to thrive or flourish) · bloom (have, or open into, blossoms) · grow (begin to thrive or flourish) · flower (have, or open into, blossoms)

Translations (132)

ckb پشکووتن (have or open into blossoms) · grc ἀνθέω (have or open into blossoms) · hy բողբոջել (have or open into blossoms) · de blühen (begin to thrive or flourish) · ja 咲く (have or open into blossoms) · cs kvést (have or open into blossoms) · uk розквіта́ти (have or open into blossoms) · de blühen (have or open into blossoms) · enm blosmen (have or open into blossoms) · unm òtaèwi (have or open into blossoms) · enm blosmen (begin to thrive or flourish) · mr फुलणे (have or open into blossoms) · sh cvjetati (have or open into blossoms) · gur puuge (begin to thrive or flourish) · scn ciuriri (have or open into blossoms) · tr çiçek açmak (have or open into blossoms) · eo flori (have or open into blossoms) · as ফুলা (have or open into blossoms) · nn blomstre (have or open into blossoms) · lb bléien (have or open into blossoms) · nb blomstre (begin to thrive or flourish) · nb blomstre (have or open into blossoms) · ka ყვავის (begin to thrive or flourish) · be цвісці́ (have or open into blossoms) · kw bleujyowa (have or open into blossoms) · mi puāwai (have or open into blossoms) · yo tanná (have or open into blossoms) · qu waytay (have or open into blossoms) · grc ἀνθέω (begin to thrive or flourish) · chr ᎠᏥᎸᏍᎦ (have or open into blossoms) · nl bloeien (have or open into blossoms) · bg цъ́фвам (have or open into blossoms) · sv blomma (have or open into blossoms) · bg цъфтя́ (have or open into blossoms) · ml പുഷ്പിക്കുക (have or open into blossoms) · ka ყვავის (have or open into blossoms) · gl frolear (have or open into blossoms) · fi puhjeta (have or open into blossoms) · uk розцвіта́ти (have or open into blossoms) · cmn 綻放 /绽放 (have or open into blossoms) · sh цветати (have or open into blossoms) · gsw blüeje (have or open into blossoms) · am አበበ (have or open into blossoms) · pl kwitnąć (have or open into blossoms) · hy բողբոջել (begin to thrive or flourish) · qu t'ikay (have or open into blossoms) · sk kvitnúť (have or open into blossoms) · fur florî (have or open into blossoms) · mi matikao (have or open into blossoms) · de aufblühen (begin to thrive or flourish) · th บาน (have or open into blossoms) · kk гүлдену (have or open into blossoms) · fi kukkia (have or open into blossoms) · nn bløme (begin to thrive or flourish) · az çiçəkləmək (have or open into blossoms) · fi kukoistaa (begin to thrive or flourish) · pt florir (have or open into blossoms) · nn bløme (have or open into blossoms) · sv blomstra (begin to thrive or flourish) · lb opbléien (begin to thrive or flourish) · ky гүлдө (have or open into blossoms) · mfe fleri (have or open into blossoms) · fa شکفتن (have or open into blossoms) · ru расцвета́ть (have or open into blossoms) · kk гүлдеу (have or open into blossoms) · lad enfloreser (have or open into blossoms) · vi nở (have or open into blossoms) · mi pua (have or open into blossoms) · uk розкві́тнути (have or open into blossoms) · ka იფურჩქნება (have or open into blossoms) · mk цути (have or open into blossoms) · it fiorire (have or open into blossoms) · km ផ្កា (have or open into blossoms) · ka იფურჩქნება (begin to thrive or flourish) · jje 피다 (have or open into blossoms) · hi खिलना (have or open into blossoms) · sh cvetati (have or open into blossoms) · gl chorir (have or open into blossoms) · mi ngawhā (have or open into blossoms) · fr s'épanouir (begin to thrive or flourish) · ru расцвета́ть (begin to thrive or flourish) · vo florön (have or open into blossoms) · nl bloesemen (have or open into blossoms) · uk розцвісти́ (have or open into blossoms) · de erblühen (have or open into blossoms) · cmn 開 /开 (have or open into blossoms) · sv blomstra (have or open into blossoms) · nn blomstre (begin to thrive or flourish) · ota چیچكلنمك (have or open into blossoms) · lb floréieren (have or open into blossoms) · ko 피다 (have or open into blossoms) · la flōreō (have or open into blossoms) · ru расцвести́ (begin to thrive or flourish) · gl esbrochar (have or open into blossoms) · ro înflori (have or open into blossoms) · az çiçək açmaq (have or open into blossoms) · es florecer (have or open into blossoms) · ky гүлдөө (have or open into blossoms) · sh цвјетати (have or open into blossoms) · la flōreō (begin to thrive or flourish) · uk цвісти́ (have or open into blossoms) · uz gullamoq (have or open into blossoms) · ca florir (have or open into blossoms) · sl cveteti (have or open into blossoms) · vo florön (begin to thrive or flourish) · scn nzagarari (have or open into blossoms) · ang blōwan (have or open into blossoms) · scn aggigghiari (begin to thrive or flourish) · ht fleri (have or open into blossoms) · tg шукуфтан (have or open into blossoms) · ckb گەشانەوە (begin to thrive or flourish) · pt prosperar (begin to thrive or flourish) · ru цвести́ (have or open into blossoms) · mi manahua (have or open into blossoms) · gl choridar (have or open into blossoms) · bg разцъфтявам (begin to thrive or flourish) · pt desabrochar (have or open into blossoms) · ru расцвести́ (have or open into blossoms) · lb bléien (begin to thrive or flourish) · mi ngaruru (begin to thrive or flourish) · pt florescer (begin to thrive or flourish) · fr fleurir (have or open into blossoms) · uk кві́тнути (have or open into blossoms) · my ပန်းပွင့် (have or open into blossoms) · tr çiçeklenmek (have or open into blossoms) · cmn 開花 /开花 (have or open into blossoms) · pt florescer (have or open into blossoms) · el ανθίζω (have or open into blossoms) · gl frorecer (have or open into blossoms) · ar زَهَرَ (have or open into blossoms) · hu virágzik (have or open into blossoms) · ur کھلنا (have or open into blossoms)