FLOURISH


Meaning of FLOURISH in English

I. ˈflər.]ish, ˈflə.r], ]ēsh, chiefly in pres part ]əsh verb

( -ed/-ing/-es )

Etymology: Middle English florisshen, from Middle French floriss-, stem of florir, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin florire, alteration of Latin florēre, from flor-, flos flower — more at blow (to bloom)

intransitive verb

1. chiefly Scotland : to bear flowers : blossom

2. : to grow luxuriantly : increase and enlarge : thrive — used chiefly of plants and animals

blueberries flourish best on an acid soil

3.

a. : to be prosperous : increase in wealth, honor, comfort, happiness, or whatever is desirable : prosper

b. : to be in a state of activity or production — used chiefly of creative workers (as painters or writers)

c. : to reach a height of development or influence — used chiefly of technical, artistic, or philosophic schools of thought

4.

a. : to play a fanciful or improvised bit of music by way of ornament or prelude

b. : to play a fanfare on trumpets

c. : to play with a flourish

5. : boast , brag

spent the evening flourishing over a bottle or two

6. : to use florid language : be flowery in speech or writing

7. : to make bold and sweeping movements or gestures especially by way of show or in bravado

flourishing about the streets

transitive verb

1. : to adorn or decorate especially with flowers or figures : ornament

the corners flourished with little silver cherubs

2. : to move about in bold and sweeping figures

flourished his cane angrily at the children

3. obsolete

a. : to embellish with rhetorical figures or ostentatious eloquence

b. : to illuminate (a manuscript) with color or decorative figures

Synonyms: see succeed , swing

II. noun

( -es )

1. chiefly Scotland : bloom or blossom especially on a fruit tree

the flourish of the apple trees

2. obsolete : blooming state or luxuriant growth usually of plants or vegetation

3.

a. obsolete : showy decoration or embellishment

b. : a florid bit of writing or speech (as a complicated figure or an ornate metaphor)

c. : a purely ornamental stroke usually attached to or enveloping a letter or meaningful figure in a writing or engraving

4.

a. : fanfare

b. : a florid musical passage

5. : the waving of a weapon or other thing

with a last flourish of her handkerchief

gave his cloak a flourish as he stepped from the coach

: a brandishing especially in salute or signal

greeted him with a flourish of his cane

caught the auctioneer's eye with a flourish of his catalog

6. : a showiness or ostentation in the performance of something often intended to call forth or fix attention or admiration

introduced his guest with a flourish

if I've got to give her a debut I'll do it with a flourish

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.