blush

[bluhsh]

verb (used without object)

1. to redden, as from self-consciousness, embarrassment, or shame.

   He blushed when they called him a conquering hero.

   Synonyms: color, flush
   Antonyms: blanch, pale

2. to feel shame or embarrassment (often followed by at orfor ).

   Your behavior makes me blush for your poor mother.

3. (of the sky, flowers, etc.) to become rosy.

4. (of house paint or lacquer) to become cloudy or dull through moisture or excessive evaporation of solvents.

verb (used with object)

1. to make red; flush.

2. to make known by a blush.

   She could not help blushing the truth.

noun

1. a reddening, as of the face.

2. rosy or pinkish tinge.

3. Also called blush-on. Also called blusher,. a cosmetic used to add a pink or reddish color to the cheeks.

4. Also called blush wine. rosé.

blush

/ blʌʃ /

verb

1. (intr) to become suddenly red in the face from embarrassment, shame, modesty, or guilt; redden

2. to make or become reddish or rosy

noun

1. a sudden reddening of the face from embarrassment, shame, modesty, or guilt

2. a rosy glow

   the blush of a peach

3. a reddish or pinkish tinge

4. a cloudy area on the surface of freshly applied gloss paint

5. when first seen; as a first impression

Other Word Forms

• blushful adjective
• blushfully adverb
• blushfulness noun
• blushless adjective
• outblush verb (used with object)
• blushingly adverb
• blushing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blush¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English verb blushen, blyshen “to glow,” probably from Old English blyscan “to glow brightly, glow red”; akin to Old English blysa, blisa, Old Norse blys, Middle Low German blus “torch,” bloschen “to blaze”; noun derived from the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of blush¹

Old English blӯscan ; related to blӯsian to burn, Middle Low German blüsen to light a fire

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at first blush, without previous knowledge or adequate consideration; at first glance.

   At first blush, the solution to the problem seemed simple enough.

see at first blush.

Example Sentences

Autochromes possess the light-dappled depth of Impressionist paintings, the powdery precision of pointillism, the honest blushes of butterfly cheeks, and the palpable textures of gleaming silks and gilded velvets.

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At this the man blushed and stammered so much, he could barely find the key to the royal suite, but at last he did.

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Held captive by his wife’s temper like an insect stuck on a pin, the baron squirmed and blushed until he finally turned to Edward Ashton.

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The older woman’s cheeks were already pink from exertion, but her proud blush shone through nevertheless.

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The blushing pink circles that typically adorned the cheeks of Lady Constance Ashton were now as scarlet as two ripe nectarines.

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