Blossom

¹ American  

[blos-uhm] / ˈblɒs əm /

noun

1. a first name.

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blossom ² 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 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

Romances blossom and bottom out in spectacular fashion.

From Los Angeles Times

My collection blossomed into more than 80 ornaments and well over 85 figurines.

From Los Angeles Times

“Peanut butter cookies — if you make peanut butter blossoms, those are really delicious,” Lieu suggests.

From Salon

"It is just so beautiful to watch her blossom and find herself," she says, adding that stories like Mary's are especially needed for teenagers trying to navigate the world and social media.

From BBC

Sakura, or cherry blossoms, are a beautiful, short-lived manifestation of this seasonal change that the country celebrates in festivals, food and drink.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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