burgeon

[ bur-juhn ]

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or develop quickly; flourish:

   The town burgeoned into a city. He burgeoned into a fine actor.

   Synonyms: thrive, mushroom, blossom, bloom

2. to be brimming or filled to bursting; abound (usually followed by with):

   All the new students are burgeoning with energy and potential. The kitchen drawers were burgeoning with tea towels.

3. to begin to grow, as a bud; put forth buds, shoots, etc., as a plant (often followed by out, forth ).

verb (used with object)

1. to put forth, as buds.

noun

1. a bud; sprout.

burgeon

/ ˈbɜːdʒən /

verb

1. often foll byforth or out (of a plant) to sprout (buds)
2. intr; often foll by forth or out to develop or grow rapidly; flourish

noun

1. a bud of a plant

Usage Note

The two senses of burgeon, “to bud” ( The maples are burgeoning ) and “to grow or flourish” ( The suburbs around the city have been burgeoning under the impact of commercial growth ), date from the 14th century. Today the sense “to grow or flourish” is the more common. Occasionally, objections are raised to the use of this sense, perhaps because of its popularity in journalistic writing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of burgeon¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English noun burjon, burion “shoot, bud,” from Anglo-French burjun, burg(e)on; Old French burjon, from unattested Vulgar Latin burriōne(m), accusative of unattested burriō, derivative of Late Latin burra “wool, fluff“ ( bourrée, bureau ), presumably from the down covering certain buds; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of burgeon¹

C13: from Old French burjon , perhaps ultimately from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth; from the downiness of certain buds

Example Sentences

The leaves burgeon on the branches in the serial order that gives to each its share of sun and rain.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the tree began to bud and burgeon with gifts, and the rare glories of colour crept in upon the snows of winter.

From Project Gutenberg

Her heart expanded, her soul seemed to burgeon and to bloom.

From Project Gutenberg

Ale in a Saxon rumkin then, makes valor burgeon in tall men.

From Project Gutenberg

Unless a writer feels free, things will not come to him, he cannot burgeon on any subject whatsoever.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• prosper
• snowball
• sprout