I. ˈbläsəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English blosme, from Old English blōstm, blōstma; akin to Middle High German bluost blossom, Old English blōwan to bloom — more at blow
1.
a. : the flower of a seed plant : bloom II 1a — used especially of flowers having a colored or conspicuous perianth, rarely of apetalous flowers, and often preferred to flower or bloom when the reference is to plants producing edible fruits
the scent of apple blossoms mingled with that of woodland flowers
b. : the mass of bloom on a single plant
this tree had an excellent blossom this year
also : the state of bearing flowers
those plums are in full blossom now
2. : a period or stage of development analogous to the unfolding of a flower
in the blossom of one's youth
3. : something resembling a blossom especially in freshness, loveliness, or rich promise
a blossom of literature
my babe, my blossom , ah, my child — Alfred Tennyson
4. : the weathered outcrop of a coal or ore deposit
5. : a moderate pink that is yellower and duller than arbutus pink, yellower and less strong than blossom pink, stronger than chalk pink, and deeper than hydrangea pink — called also Venetian pink
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English blosmen, from Old English blōstmian, from blōstm, blōstma
1.
a. of plants : to put forth flowers : come into bloom : flower
this lily blossoms very early
b. of places : to be or become full of flowers
during its short season the desert blossoms gloriously
2. : to unfold like a blossom
smoke blossomed out from the cracks
as
a. : to flourish and prosper
the romance … blossomed for six or seven months and then wilted — Saxe Commins
b. : develop , evolve , expand — often used with into, sometimes with out
the town blossomed into a metropolis
genuine culture often blossoms tardily
he started small and blossomed out as he gained experience
c. : to come into being : put in an appearance : appear
under rental control trickery and connivance blossomed
new industries can blossom overnight if we find an outlet for their products
d. of a parachute : to open and expand
3. : to be or become changed by or notable for the appearance or addition of something — usually used with with or out
the ward had blossomed out in shiny plaster casts — Earl Birney
Apple Valley blossoms with dude ranches — Ralph Friedman