blooming

[bloo-ming]

adjective

1. in bloom; flowering; blossoming.

2. glowing, as with youthful vigor and freshness.

   blooming cheeks.

3. flourishing; prospering.

   a blooming business.

4. Chiefly British Slang.,  (used as an intensifier).

   He's got his blooming nerve.

adverb

1. Chiefly British Slang.,  (used as an intensifier).

   not blooming likely.

blooming

/ ˈbluːmɪŋ /

adverb

1. informal,  (intensifier)

   a blooming genius

   blooming painful

Other Word Forms

• bloomingly adverb
• bloomingness noun
• nonblooming adjective
• preblooming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blooming¹

1350–1400; Middle English; bloom ¹, -ing ²; as intensifier, a euphemism for bloody, by phonetic similarity

Word History and Origins

Origin of blooming¹

C19: euphemistic for _bloody

Related Words

• budding 
• flourishing