blossom

[blos-uh m] /ˈblɒs əm/
noun, Botany
1.
the flower of a plant, especially of one producing an edible fruit.
2.
the state of flowering:
The apple tree is in blossom.
verb (used without object)
3.
Botany. to produce or yield blossoms.
4.
to flourish; develop (often followed by into or out):
a writer of commercial jingles who blossomed out into an important composer.
5.
(of a parachute) to open.
Origin
before 900; (noun) Middle English blosme, blossem, Old English blōstm(a), blōsma flower; cognate with Middle Dutch bloesem, Middle Low German blosem, blossem; (v.) Middle English blosmen, Old English blōstmian, derivative of the noun See bloom1, blow3
Related forms
blossomless, adjective
blossomy, adjective
outblossom, verb (used with object)
reblossom, verb (used without object)
unblossomed, adjective
unblossoming, adjective
Synonyms
4. thrive, bloom, burgeon, sprout.

Blossom

[blos-uh m] /ˈblɒs əm/
noun
1.
a female given name.
Examples from the web for blossom
  • All it took to make him blossom, as i later learned, was a little praise.
British Dictionary definitions for blossom

blossom

/ˈblɒsəm/
noun
1.
the flower or flowers of a plant, esp conspicuous flowers producing edible fruit
2.
the time or period of flowering (esp in the phrases in blossom, in full blossom)
verb (intransitive)
3.
(of plants) to come into flower
4.
to develop or come to a promising stage: youth had blossomed into maturity
Derived Forms
blossoming, noun, adjective
blossomless, adjective
blossomy, adjective
Word Origin
Old English blōstm; related to Middle Low German blōsem, Latin flōs flower
Word Origin and History for blossom
n.

c.1200, from Old English blostm, blostma "blossom, flower, fruit," from Proto-Germanic *blo-s- (cf. Middle Low German blosom, Dutch bloesem, German Blust), from PIE *bhlow-, extended form of *bhel- (3) "to thrive, bloom," possibly identical with *bhel- (2) "to blow, inflate, swell" (see bole). This is the native word, now largely superseded by bloom and flower.

v.

late 14c., from Old English blostmian, from blostma "blossom, flower" (see blossom (n.)). Figurative use from late 14c. Related: Blossomed; blossoming.