blush

[bluhsh] /blʌʃ/
verb (used without object)
1.
to redden, as from embarrassment or shame:
He blushed when they called him a conquering hero.
2.
to feel shame or embarrassment (often followed by at or for):
Your behavior makes me blush for your poor mother.
3.
(of the sky, flowers, etc.) to become rosy.
4.
(of new house paint or lacquer) to become cloudy or dull through moisture or excessive evaporation of solvents.
verb (used with object)
5.
to make red; flush.
6.
to make known by a blush:
She could not help blushing the truth.
noun
7.
a reddening, as of the face.
8.
rosy or pinkish tinge.
9.
blusher (def 2).
10.
Also called blush· wine·, rosé.
Idioms
11.
at first blush, without previous knowledge or adequate consideration; at first glance:
At first blush, the solution to the problem seemed simple enough.
Origin
1275-1325; (v.) Middle English bluschen, Old English blyscan to redden; akin to Old English blysa, Old Norse blys, Middle Low German blus torch, bloschen to blaze; (noun) Middle English blusch, blisch, derivative of the v.
Related forms
blushful, adjective
blushfully, adverb
blushfulness, noun
blushingly, adverb
blushless, adjective
outblush, verb (used with object)
Synonyms
1. flush, color.
Antonyms
1. pale, blanch.
Examples from the web for blush
  • Clusters of fragrant white flowers with a purplish pink blush appear in late winter.
  • Plan for a sunset ferry ride back to town, when buildings and sky blush with pink.
  • Fold it spoonful by spoonful into whipped cream for blush-pink dressing to bedeck a fruit salad.
  • Crazy also has some thoughts on the perils of teaching things that make both professor and students blush.
  • At first blush this is statement of the blindingly obvious.
  • Apply two cheeks on one side of the head using blush and a cotton swab.
  • Some are small exotic projects that at first blush seem nearly impossible.
  • Flowers come in four bright colors as well as blush.
  • Well, it appears the situation is not as dire as it appeared at first blush.
  • Seasonal chemistry brings a blush to a stand of fern.
British Dictionary definitions for blush

blush

/blʌʃ/
verb
1.
(intransitive) to become suddenly red in the face from embarrassment, shame, modesty, or guilt; redden
2.
to make or become reddish or rosy
noun
3.
a sudden reddening of the face from embarrassment, shame, modesty, or guilt
4.
a rosy glow: the blush of a peach
5.
a reddish or pinkish tinge
6.
a cloudy area on the surface of freshly applied gloss paint
7.
at first blush, when first seen; as a first impression
Derived Forms
blushful, adjective
blushing, noun, adjective
blushingly, adverb
Word Origin
Old English blӯscan; related to blӯsian to burn, Middle Low German blüsen to light a fire
Word Origin and History for blush
v.

mid-14c., bluschen, blischen, probably from Old English blyscan "blush, become red, glow" (glossing Latin rutilare), akin to blyse "torch," from Proto-Germanic *blisk- "to shine, burn," which also yielded words in Low German (e.g. Dutch blozen "to blush") and Scandinavian (e.g. Danish blusse "to blaze; to blush"); ultimately from PIE *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn" (see bleach (v.)).

For vowel evolution, see bury. Earliest recorded senses were "to shine brightly; to look, stare." Sense of "turn red in the face" (with shame, modesty, etc.) is from c.1400. Related: Blushed; blushing.

n.

mid-14c., "a look, a glance" (sense preserved in at first blush), also "a gleam, a gleaming" (late 14c.), from blush (v.). As "a reddening of the face" from 1590s. Meaning "a rosy color" is 1590s.

blush in Medicine

blush (blŭsh)
n.
A sudden and brief redness of the face and neck due to emotion; flush.

blush v.
Idioms and Phrases with blush

blush

see: at first blush