blush

¹blush

noun \ˈbləsh\

Definition of BLUSH

1

: outward appearance : view <at first blush>

2

: a reddening of the face especially from shame, modesty, or confusion

3

: a red or rosy tint

4

: a cosmetic applied to the face to give a usually pink color or to accent the cheekbones

— blush·ful \-fəl\ adjective

Examples of BLUSH

1. The comment brought a blush to her cheeks.
2. The fruit is yellow, with a blush of pink.
3. She put on a little lipstick and blush.

Origin of BLUSH

Middle English, probably from blusshen

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BLUSH

Synonyms

bloom, color, flush

Related Words

brightness, brilliance, glow; pinkness, reddishness, redness, rosiness, ruddiness, sanguineness

Near Antonyms

paleness, pallidness, pallor, pastiness, wanness, whiteness; greenishness, greenness, sallowness

Rhymes with BLUSH

brush, crush, Cush, flush, gush, hush, lush, mush, plush, rush, shush, slush, thrush, tush

²blush

intransitive verb

Definition of BLUSH

1

: to become red in the face especially from shame, modesty, or confusion

2

: to feel shame or embarrassment

3

: to have a rosy or fresh color : bloom

— blush·ing·ly \ˈblə-shiŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of BLUSH

1. He blushed at the compliment.
2. I blush to admit it, but you've caught me in an error.

Origin of BLUSH

Middle English blusshen, from Old English blyscan to redden; akin to Old English blȳsa flame, Old High German bluhhen to burn brightly

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BLUSH

Synonyms

bloom, color, crimson, flush, glow, redden, turn color

Related Words

incarnadine, rouge, ruddle; abash, chagrin, discomfit, disconcert, embarrass, faze, humiliate, mortify

blush

intransitive verb \ˈbləsh\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BLUSH

: to become red in the face especially from shame, modesty, or confusion

—blush noun