bloom

1a :  blossom 1a, flowerb :  the flowering state the roses are in bloomc :  a period of flowering the spring bloomd :  a rapid and excessive growth of a plankton population (as of algae or dinoflagellates) — compare red tide

2a :  a state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigorb :  a state or time of high development or achievement a career in full bloom

3 :  a surface coating or appearance: such asa :  a delicate powdery coating on some fruits and leavesb :  a rosy appearance of the cheeks; broadly :  an outward evidence of freshness or healthy vigorc :  a cloudiness on a film of varnish or lacquerd :  a grayish discoloration on chocolatee :  glare caused by an object reflecting too much light into a television camera

1a :  to produce or yield flowersb :  to support abundant plant life make the desert bloom

2a (1) :  to mature into achievement of one's potential (2) :  to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, or excellenceb :  to shine out :  glow

3 :  to appear or occur unexpectedly or in remarkable quantity or degree

4 :  to become densely populated with microorganisms and especially plankton —used of bodies of water

1 obsolete :  to cause to bloom

2 :  to give bloom to

Harold 1930–     American literary critic

1 :  ¹flower 1

2 :  the period or state of producing flowers The bushes are in bloom.

3 :  a condition or time of beauty, freshness, and strength the bloom of youth

4 :  the rosy color of the cheek

1 :  to produce flowers This tree blooms in the spring.

2 :  to change, grow, or develop fully The children quickly bloomed.