burgeon

bur·geon

intransitive verb \ˈbər-jən\

Definition of BURGEON

1

a : to send forth new growth (as buds or branches) : sprout

b : bloom

2

: to grow and expand rapidly : flourish

Variants of BURGEON

bur·geon also bour·geon \ˈbər-jən\

Examples of BURGEON

1. The market for collectibles has burgeoned in recent years.
2. <the trout population in the stream is burgeoning now that the water is clean>

Origin of BURGEON

Middle English burjonen, from Anglo-French burjuner, from burjun bud, from Vulgar Latin *burrion-, burrio, from Late Latin burra fluff, shaggy cloth

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BURGEON

Synonyms

accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, increase (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

Antonyms

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

Related Words

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peak

Near Antonyms

dry up, fade, shrivel, wilt, wither; die, drop, expire, perish

Other Botany Terms

annual, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

Rhymes with BURGEON

sturgeon, surgeon, virgin