effloresce

ef·flo·resce

verb \ˌe-flə-ˈres\

ef·flo·rescedef·flo·resc·ing

Definition of EFFLORESCE

intransitive verb

1

: to burst forth : bloom

2

a : to change to a powder from loss of water of crystallization b : to form or become covered with a powdery crust <bricks may effloresce owing to the deposition of soluble salts>

Examples of EFFLORESCE

1. <created an artificial environment in which plants grew and effloresced regardless of season>

Origin of EFFLORESCE

Latin efflorescere, from ex- + florescere to begin to blossom — more at florescence

First Known Use: 1775

Related to EFFLORESCE

Synonyms: blossom, blow, burgeon (also bourgeon), bloom, flower, unfold

Related Words: leaf, leave; bud; open

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

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Rhymes with EFFLORESCE

ABS, acquiesce, baroness, bitter cress, CBS, coalesce, convalesce, crown princess, DES, decompress, deliquesce, derepress, dispossess, due process, effervesce, evanesce, full-court press, gentilesse, granny dress, in-process, inverness, Inverness, less and less, letterpress, luminesce, Lyonnesse, minidress, more or less, nonetheless, obsolesce, otherguess, overdress, pennycress, phosphoresce, politesse, prepossess, preprocess, recrudesce, repossess, reprocess, retrogress, second-guess, SOS, sweaterdress, underdress, watercress, window-dress, word process