bloom

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈblüm 

1

: a mass of wrought iron from the forge or puddling furnace

2

: a bar of iron or steel hammered or rolled from an ingot

bloom

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural blooms

1

a

: blossom sense 1a, flower

b

: the flowering state

the roses are in bloom

c

: a period of flowering

the spring bloom

d(1)

: a rapid and excessive growth of a plankton population (as of algae or dinoflagellates) compare red tide

(2)

: a large aggregation of free-swimming organisms : swarm

a jellyfish bloom

2

a

: a state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor

b

: a state or time of high development or achievement

a career in full bloom

3

: a surface coating or appearance: such as

a

: a delicate powdery coating on some fruits and leaves

b

: a rosy appearance of the cheeks

broadly : an outward evidence of freshness or healthy vigor

c

: a cloudiness on a film of varnish or lacquer

d

: a grayish discoloration on chocolate

e

: glare caused by an object reflecting too much light into a television camera

bloom

3 of 3

verb

bloomed; blooming; blooms

intransitive verb

1

a

: to produce or yield flowers

b

: to support abundant plant life

make the desert bloom

2

a(1)

: to mature into achievement of one's potential

(2)

: to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, or excellence

b

: to shine out : glow

c

: to become more apparent or fully expressed (as in flavor or aroma)

In all classic sauces and dressings, good oil is the base from which delectable flavors bloom.

—Renée Loux Underkoffler

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

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to cause to bloom

2

: to give bloom to

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• blossom
• florescence
• floruit
• flower
• flush
• heyday
• high noon
• prime
• salad days
• springtime

Verb

• blossom
• blow
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• effloresce
• flower
• unfold

Examples of bloom in a Sentence

Verb

flowers blooming in the garden

Their love was just beginning to bloom.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

An aging hydropower dam obstructs fish migration and is poorly maintained, creating conditions upstream that reduce water quality and feed toxic algal blooms, the report says. —USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024

The blooms on the 3,000 cherry trees Japan gave to the United States more than a century ago have become a quintessential marker of spring in the nation’s capital. —Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024

This ensures that each individual petal or leaf is visible—the more vibrant the bloom, the better the final piece will turn out. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024

But some blooms have already disappeared, according to the Anza Borrego Foundation. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024

Frost-free areas will enjoy the blooms during winter. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024

People walk through the blooms taking in their beauty. —Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2024

Their wine label depicts the Santa Clara Valley in the orchard bloom of spring that occurred for decades until the advent of Silicon Valley. —Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024

Soon, the local wildflower blooms will spread to higher elevations with roadsides to Mount Palomar, Julian and Mount Laguna colored with clusters of lupines, monkey flowers or California poppies. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024

Verb

From this familiar premise blooms a moving portrait of self-discovery and creativity complete with delectable dishes, haute couture, a painter from the past, and a famous bookstore sheltering eccentrics and poets. —Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024

Oakleaf hydrangea doesn't bloom as much or grow as lush in full shade. —Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2024

French marigolds bloom in shades of orange, yellow, and red throughout the summer growing season—sometimes even lasting until the first frost. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024

From there, Bolton says one morning in the museum, rushing around with growing excitement, the exhibition blooms into its naturalistic themes. —Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024

Late April to mid-May tends to be best for blooming trees, while October to early November is usually prime for leaf peeping. —Elizabeth Warkentin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2024

More wildflowers could bloom soon in SoCal — if recent warmer temperatures stay more consistent into mid-April. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024

The great North American eclipse is behind us, flowers in the northern states are starting to bloom and all the signs of spring are here. —Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024

The beach and almond trees bloom and the wheat fields are golden. —Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English blome lump of metal, from Old English blōma

Noun (2)

Middle English blome, from Old Norse blōm; akin to Old English blōwan to blossom — more at blow

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing bloom

• come in/into bloom
• in bloom
• in full bloom
• water bloom

Kids Definition

bloom

1 of 2 noun

ˈblüm 

1

a

: blossom entry 1 sense 1

b

: the period or state of flowering

the roses are in bloom

c

: an excessive growth of plankton

2

a

: blossom entry 1 sense 3

b

: a state or time of beauty, freshness, and strength

3

a

: a delicate powdery coating especially on some fruits and leaves

b

: a rosy appearance of the cheeks

bloom

2 of 2 verb

1

: to produce flowers : blossom

2

a

: blossom entry 2 sense 2

b

: to be in a state of youthful beauty or freshness : flourish

3

: to glow with rosy color

bloomer noun

Biographical Definition

Bloom

biographical name

ˈblüm 

Harold 1930–2019 American literary critic