blossom

¹ American  

[blos-uhm] / ˈblɒs əm /

noun

Botany.

1. the flower of a plant, especially of one producing an edible fruit.

2. the state of flowering.

   The apple tree is in blossom.

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verb (used without object)

1. Botany. to produce or yield blossoms.

2. to flourish; develop (often followed by into orout ).

   a writer of commercial jingles who blossomed out into an important composer.

   Synonyms:

   sprout, burgeon, bloom, thrive

3. (of a parachute) to open.

Blossom ² American  

[blos-uhm] / ˈblɒs əm /

noun

1. a first name.

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blossom British  

/ ˈblɒsəm /

noun

1. the flower or flowers of a plant, esp conspicuous flowers producing edible fruit

2. the time or period of flowering (esp in the phrases in blossom, in full blossom )

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verb

1. (of plants) to come into flower

2. to develop or come to a promising stage

   youth had blossomed into maturity

Usage

What does blossom mean? In botany, a blossom is the flower of a plant, normally in its early stages and often referring to a flower that becomes edible fruit, such as apple and cherry blossoms.In botanical terms, a blossom  is a flower that is attached to an edible fruit, such as a tomato blossom, or plant that is known for a product that is not the flower, like a cactus.Blossom also refers to the state of flowering, as in Washington, DC, looks lovely when all the cherry trees are in blossom.To blossom means to produce blossoms. When a plant is blossoming, it has produced flower buds that are in the process of producing petals and opening.Figuratively, to blossom means to flourish or to begin to succeed or develop. If someone tells you that you are blossoming into a good student, they mean you are getting better at your schoolwork or completing your schoolwork.Example: The cherry blossoms unfolding are always the best part of April.

Other Word Forms

• blossoming noun
• blossomless adjective
• blossomy adjective
• outblossom verb (used with object)
• reblossom verb (used without object)
• unblossomed adjective
• unblossoming adjective

Etymology

Origin of blossom

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun blosme, blossem, Old English blōstm(a), blōsma “flower”; cognate with Middle Dutch bloesem, Middle Low German blosem, blossem; bloom ¹, blow ³

Example Sentences

United might not quite be winning trophies with kids, but they have a young generation that is beginning to blossom.

From BBC

Now that Perry’s relationship with Trudeau continues to blossom, the couple may base themselves in the new home the former prime minister purchased.

From MarketWatch

Previously Chinese visitors were the biggest contingent, contributing to a tourism boom in the land of cherry blossom and Mount Fuji that was fuelled by a weak yen making shopping cheap.

From Barron's

“We never stopped believing that somewhere out there, in some stranger’s backyard, our mother’s rosebush was blossoming madly, wildly, pressing one perfect red flower after another out into the late afternoon light.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"In a sport once seen as unpopular and overlooked, it feels as if a lotus has truly blossomed."

From Barron's

Related Words

• bloom
• develop
• grow
• mature
• prosper
• succeed
• thrive