bloom
bloom
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown:
bloom /bluːm/
bl- /bl/ (consonant cluster)
oo- /uː/ (long vowel)
-m /m/ (consonant)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bloom
Plural Noun: blooms
Verb (base form): bloom
Verb (third-person singular present): blooms
Verb (present participle): blooming
Verb (past tense/past participle): bloomed
Adjective: blooming (often used informally as an intensifier, e.g., "a blooming idiot")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The state or period in which a flower is fully open and displaying its beauty.
Synonyms: blossom, efflorescence, flowering
Antonyms: dormancy, decay, wilting
Definition 2: A fresh and healthy glow, especially on a person's skin, indicating good health or vitality.
Synonyms: glow, radiance, flush, vibrance
Antonyms: pallor, dullness, fading
Definition 3: A period of growth, development, or flourishing, often used metaphorically.
Synonyms: peak, prime, zenith, prosperity
Antonyms: decline, wane, stagnation
Verb
Definition 1: (Of a plant or flower) to produce flowers; to open into a flower.
Synonyms: blossom, flower, burgeon, sprout
Antonyms: wilt, wither, decay, fade
Definition 2: To flourish or thrive; to develop with vigor and success.
Synonyms: prosper, thrive, burgeon, expand, develop
Antonyms: decline, languish, fail, diminish
Definition 3: To cause to develop or grow; to bring to a state of flourishing.
Synonyms: cultivate, foster, nurture, encourage
Antonyms: hinder, stifle, suppress, impede
Adjective (used informally)
Definition 1: Used to emphasize a statement or to express annoyance; utterly or absolutely. (This usage is primarily British English.)
Synonyms: absolute, complete, utter, definite
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, as it's an intensifier, but could be thought of as lack of emphasis) slight, partial
Examples of Use
Books:
"There, in the lush green of the valley, the rare night-blooming cereus was expected to bloom for only a single evening." (From Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, August 2018)
"In the spring, the cherry blossoms bloom in a spectacular display of pink and white." (From Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, September 1997)
Newspapers:
"The local economy is expected to bloom in the coming quarter, driven by new investments in technology." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Thousands flocked to the botanical gardens to witness the annual bloom of the giant water lilies." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"How to make your indoor plants bloom all year round: Expert tips for thriving greenery." (Apartment Therapy)
"The tech startup saw its user base bloom after a successful marketing campaign." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Beauty and the Beast, the enchanted rose's petals fall, symbolizing the Beast's dwindling time, and its eventual bloom or restoration is tied to the breaking of the spell. (Original release November 1991)
Music: The song "A Rose in a Garden of Thorns" by Carrie Underwood contains the line, "Every time you smile, another rose will bloom," metaphorically connecting happiness to growth. (From the album Storyteller, October 2015)
Television Series: In a nature documentary on BBC Earth, the narrator describes how certain desert flowers only bloom after a rare rainfall, showcasing their resilience. (BBC Earth, "Planet Earth II," November 2016)
Video Games: In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players cultivate flowers that will eventually bloom into various colors and types, which can then be used for crafting or decoration. (Nintendo, March 2020)
General Public Discourse:
"My daughter's artistic talent really started to bloom once she joined the art club at school." (Heard in conversation)
"The town is famous for its spring bloom of daffodils, drawing tourists from all over the region." (Local tourism brochure)
"It's incredible to see how the community garden has begun to bloom with so many different vegetables this year." (Community newsletter)
10 Quotes Using Bloom
"The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all." (Walt Disney Company, Mulan)
"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms." (Zen Shin)
"Where flowers bloom, so does hope." (Lady Bird Johnson)
"If your heart is a volcano, how shall you expect flowers to bloom?" (Khalil Gibran)
"Why should I be unhappy? Every parcel of my being is in full bloom." (Rumi)
"We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time." (Denis Waitley)
"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." (Audrey Hepburn) – While this is a famous quote, a more direct use of "bloom" that is also famous: "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend." (Mao Zedong)
"If you tend to a flower, it will bloom, no matter how many weeds surround it." (Matshona Dhliwayo)
"The Rose is without an explanation; She blooms, because She blooms." (Angelus Silesius)
"I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom." (Clarissa Pinkola Estes)
Etymology
The word "bloom" as we use it today, meaning a flower or the act of flowering, has its roots in Old Norse. It comes from the Old Norse word "blóm" (or "blómi"), which meant "flower" or "blossom."
This word made its way into English around the 13th century (Middle English period). So, its very first meaning in English was essentially the same as what we commonly understand: the flower of a plant or the act of producing flowers.
Interestingly, there's another, older English word, "blōma" from Old English, which meant a "lump of metal," particularly a mass of iron. While it sounds similar and even shares some very distant Germanic origins related to things swelling or expanding, this "metal" meaning of "bloom" is generally considered a separate word that just happens to look and sound the same. The "flower" sense of "bloom" is the one that has truly blossomed and stayed with us in common language.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bloom
In full bloom: Describing a plant with all its flowers open, or something at its peak of development.
The bloom is off the rose: Signifying that the initial freshness, excitement, or beauty of something has faded.
Late bloomer: Someone who develops their talents, abilities, or maturity later in life than is typical.
To make something bloom: To cause something to flourish or develop successfully.
To bloom where you are planted: To thrive and make the best of one's current circumstances, no matter where one finds oneself.
To bloom into something new: To transform or evolve into a different or improved state.
Youthful bloom: Referring to the fresh, healthy appearance of a young person.
A bloom of algae: A rapid and excessive growth of algae in a body of water.
A desert in bloom: Used to describe a normally barren area that has suddenly burst into flower, often after rain.
To bloom and prosper: A phrase suggesting growth and success, often in a general sense.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bloom from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
