bloom

1 a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement a handsome young man in the full bloom of youth Synonyms blossom, florescence, floruit, flower, flush, heyday, high noon, prime, salad days, springtime Related Words autumn, Indian summer; blooming, blossoming, efflorescence, flowering; acme, apex, climax, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith; glory, grandeur, splendor; belle epoque (or belle époque), golden age, silver age; comeback, recovery, revivial Near Antonyms decay, decline, downfall; bottom, nadir; shriveling (or shrivelling), wilting, withering

2 a rosy appearance (of the cheeks) after a snowball fight, she came inside with a bloom on her cheeks Synonyms blush, color, flush Related Words brightness, brilliance, glow; pinkness, reddishness, redness, rosiness, ruddiness, sanguineness Near Antonyms paleness, pallidness, pallor, pastiness, wanness, whiteness; greenishness, greenness, sallowness

3 the usually showy plant part that produces seeds the rosebush produces blooms only in midsummer Synonyms flower, blossomRelated Words bud, floret, floweret (also flowerette); bouquet, nosegay, posy; arrangement, boutonniere, corsage, garland, lei, spray, wreath

1 to produce flowers forsythias only bloom at the beginning of spring Synonyms blossom, blow, burgeon (also bourgeon), effloresce, flower, unfold Related Words leaf, leave; bud; open Near Antonyms dry up, fade, shrivel, wilt, wither; die, drop, expire, perish

2 to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment) she arrived at the house, blooming from her vigorous walk Synonyms blush, color, crimson, flush, glow, reddenRelated Words incarnadine, rouge, ruddle; abash, chagrin, discomfit, disconcert, embarrass, faze, humiliate, mortify