burgeon

American  

[bur-juhn] / ˈbɜr dʒən /

Also bourgeon

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or develop quickly; flourish.

   The town burgeoned into a city. He burgeoned into a fine actor.

   Synonyms:

   thrive, mushroom, blossom, bloom

2. to be brimming or filled to bursting; abound (usually followed by with).

   All the new students are burgeoning with energy and potential. The kitchen drawers were burgeoning with tea towels.

3. to begin to grow, as a bud; put forth buds, shoots, etc., as a plant (often followed byout, forth ).

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verb (used with object)

1. to put forth, as buds.

noun

1. a bud; sprout.

burgeon British  

/ ˈbɜːdʒən /

verb

1. (of a plant) to sprout (buds)

2. (intr; often foll by forth or out) to develop or grow rapidly; flourish

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noun

1. a bud of a plant

Usage

The two senses of burgeon, “to bud” ( The maples are burgeoning ) and “to grow or flourish” ( The suburbs around the city have been burgeoning under the impact of commercial growth ), date from the 14th century. Today the sense “to grow or flourish” is the more common. Occasionally, objections are raised to the use of this sense, perhaps because of its popularity in journalistic writing.

Etymology

Origin of burgeon

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English noun burjon, burion “shoot, bud,” from Anglo-French burjun, burg(e)on; Old French burjon, from unattested Vulgar Latin burriōne(m), accusative of unattested burriō, derivative of Late Latin burra “wool, fluff“ ( bourrée, bureau ), presumably from the down covering certain buds; verb derivative of the noun

Example Sentences

However, the lack of a full recovery in the automotive segment still poses a major overhang for analog semiconductors, overshadowing their burgeoning data-center businesses.

From MarketWatch

But like companies in the battered software sector, Uber is currently in the difficult position of having to prove that it won’t be disrupted by a still burgeoning new technology.

From The Wall Street Journal

Russell is sensing a burgeoning backlash against AI, "particularly among younger people".

From Barron's

Much of the growth has come from capitalizing on the burgeoning population and economy of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said Luce, the agency’s president.

From The Wall Street Journal

With the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shedding staff at its flagship Chicago office, lawmakers are questioning the agency’s ability to regulate burgeoning markets tied to cryptocurrencies and event contracts.

From Barron's

Related Words

• prosper
• snowball
• sprout