bloom 1
— bloomless , adj.
/bloohm/ , n.
1. the flower of a plant.
2. flowers collectively: the bloom of the cherry tree.
3. state of having the buds opened: The gardens are all in bloom.
4. a flourishing, healthy condition; the time or period of greatest beauty, artistry, etc.: the bloom of youth; the bloom of Romanticism.
5. a glow or flush on the cheek indicative of youth and health: a serious illness that destroyed her bloom.
6. the glossy, healthy appearance of the coat of an animal.
7. a moist, lustrous appearance indicating freshness in fish.
8. redness or a fresh appearance on the surface of meat.
9. Bot. a whitish powdery deposit or coating, as on the surface of certain fruits and leaves: the bloom of the grape.
10. any similar surface coating or appearance: the bloom of newly minted coins.
11. any of certain minerals occurring as powdery coatings on rocks or other minerals.
12. Also called chill . a clouded or dull area on a varnished or lacquered surface.
13. the sudden development of conspicuous masses of organisms, as algae on the surface of a lake.
14. Television. image spread produced by excessive exposure of highlights in a television image.
15. take the bloom off , to remove the enjoyment or ultimate satisfaction from; dampen the enthusiasm over: The coach's illness took the bloom off the team's victory.
16. the bloom is off (the rose) , the excitement, enjoyment, interest, etc., has ended or been dampened.
v.i.
17. to produce or yield blossoms.
18. to flourish or thrive: a recurrent fad that blooms from time to time.
19. to be in or achieve a state of healthful beauty and vigor: a sickly child who suddenly bloomed; a small talent that somehow bloomed into major artistry.
20. to glow with warmth or with a warm color.
v.t.
21. to cause to yield blossoms.
22. to make bloom or cause to flourish: a happiness that blooms the cheek.
23. to invest with luster or beauty: an industry that blooms one's talents.
24. to cause a cloudy area on (something shiny); dampen; chill: Their breath bloomed the frosty pane.
25. Optics. to coat (a lens) with an antireflection material.
[ 1150-1200; (n.) ME blom, blome blom, blomi; c. Goth bloma lily, G Blume flower; akin to BLOW 3 ; (v.) ME blomen, deriv. of the n. ]
Syn. 1. blossom. 3. efflorescence. 4. freshness, glow, flush; vigor, prime. 16, 17 . effloresce.
bloom 2
/bloohm/ , Metalworking.
n.
1. a piece of steel, square or slightly oblong in section, reduced from an ingot to dimensions suitable for further rolling.
2. a large lump of iron and slag, of pasty consistency when hot, produced in a puddling furnace or bloomery and hammered into wrought iron.
v.t.
3. to make (an ingot) into a bloom.
[ bef. 1000; repr. AL, AF blomes (pl.), OE bloma mass of iron; perh. akin to BLOOM 1 ]