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n. 1. a. The flower of a plant. b. Something resembling the flower of a plant: "Her hair was caught all to one side in a great bloom of frizz" (Anne Tyler). 2. a. The condition of being in flower: a rose in full bloom. b. A condition or time of vigor and beauty; prime: "the radiant bloom of Greek genius" (Edith Hamilton). 3. A fresh, rosy complexion: "She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom" (Jane Austen). 4. a. A waxy or powdery whitish to bluish coating on the surface of certain plant parts, as on cabbage leaves or on a plum or grape. b. A similar coating, as on newly minted coins. c. Grayish blotches or streaks on the surface of chocolate produced by the formation of cocoa butter crystals. 5. Glare that is caused by a shiny object reflecting too much light into a camera. 6. A colored area on the surface of a body of water caused by large numbers of phytoplankton, especially cyanobacteria. v. bloomed, bloom·ing, blooms v.intr. 1. a. To bear a flower or flowers. b. To support plant life in abundance: rains that made the yard bloom. 2. To glow; be radiant: "Our summer-gray potbellied stove bloomed rosy red during winter" (Maya Angelou). 3. To mature or flourish with youth and vigor: genius blooming under a great teacher. 4. To appear or come into being suddenly: "Her pale shoulders bloomed from the green flounces" (Erin McGraw). v.tr. 1. To cause to flourish. 2. Obsolete To cause to flower. bloomy adj. Synonyms: bloom1, blossom, efflorescence, florescence, flower, flush1, prime These nouns denote a condition or time of greatest vigor and freshness: beauty in full bloom; the blossom of a great romance; the efflorescence of Russian literature; the florescence of Greek civilization; in the flower of youthful enthusiasm; in the flush of their success; the prime of life.  (click for a larger image) bloom1yellowish phytoplankton bloom at the Leighton Moss nature reserve near Carnforth, England |
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