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 or for ):

   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 blusher,. a cosmetic used to add a pink or reddish color to the cheeks.
4. Also called blush wine. rosé ( def ).

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. at first blush
   at first blush when first seen; as a first impression

Derived Forms

• ˈblushful, adjective
• ˈblushingly, adverb
• ˈblushing, nounadjective

Other Words From

• blush·ful adjective
• blush·ful·ly adverb
• blush·ful·ness noun
• blush·less adjective
• out·blush verb (used with object)

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.

More idioms and phrases containing blush

see at first blush .

Example Sentences

In part, the revival was spurred by Bala Bangles — aesthetically pleasing, minimalist weights that come in colors such as charcoal and blush and that look good on Instagram.

From Washington Post

They also proliferate with a promiscuity that would make a bunny blush.

From Quanta Magazine

Superconductivity—in which electrons flow through a material without resistance—sounds impossible at first blush.

From MIT Technology Review

The compact dishes come in cute ivory, blush, and light blue colors.

From Popular-Science

It’s not a complicated question at first blush, but the more we plumb its depths, the more we identify additional complications.

From Search Engine Land

Storage containers hold a treasure trove of mascara, lipstick, blush, and other makeup.

From The Daily Beast

At first blush, this practice may have the appearance of legitimacy in cases where detainees refused to eat or drink.

From The Daily Beast

But Ello is not the Shangri-La of social networks that it might appear to be at first blush.

From The Daily Beast

All of them are plain, boring, unadventurous, and blush when the topic of sex is brought up.

From The Daily Beast

At first blush, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford, and Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla Motors, would seem to have little in common.

From The Daily Beast

"Oh, but dear Mrs. Dodd, suppose she couldn't help it," said the artless maiden with a blush and a little sigh.

From Project Gutenberg

The memory of her daily tenderness swept over him; and shame sent a blush into his cheeks.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore the showers were withholden, and there was no lateward rain: thou hadst a harlot's forehead, thou wouldst not blush.

From Project Gutenberg

It was one of those brilliant clear crisp days with which that high plateau can put even California to the blush.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, as she told herself with a blush, she was not altogether indifferent to the money.

From Project Gutenberg