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Webster 1913 Edition

Blossom

Blos′som

(blŏs′sŭm)
,
Noun.
[OE.
blosme
,
blostme
, AS.
blōsma
,
blōstma
, blossom; akin to D.
bloesem
, L.
fios
, and E.
flower
; from the root of E.
blow
to blossom. See
Blow
to blossom, and cf.
Bloom
a blossom.]
1.
The flower of a plant, or the essential organs of reproduction, with their appendages; florescence; bloom; the flowers of a plant, collectively;
as, the
blossoms
and fruit of a tree; an apple tree in
blossom
.
☞ The term has been applied by some botanists, and is also applied in common usage, to the corolla. It is more commonly used than flower or bloom, when we have reference to the fruit which is to succeed. Thus we use flowers when we speak of plants cultivated for ornament, and bloom in a more general sense, as of flowers in general, or in reference to the beauty of flowers.
Blossoms
flaunting in the eye of day.
Longfellow.
2.
A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that gives rich promise.
In the
blossom
of my youth.
Massinger.
3.
The color of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with sorrel and bay hairs; – otherwise called peach color.
In blossom
,
having the blossoms open; in bloom.

Blos′som

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Blossomed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Blossoming
.]
[AS.
bl[GREEK]stmian
. See
Blossom
,
Noun.
]
1.
To put forth blossoms or flowers; to bloom; to blow; to flower.
The moving whisper of huge trees that branched
And
blossomed
.
Tennyson.
2.
To flourish and prosper; to develop into a superior type.
Israel shall
blossom
and bud, and full the face of the world with fruit.
Isa. xxvii. 6.

Webster 1828 Edition

Blossom

BLOS'SOM

,
Noun.
[Gr. a bud, probably from the same root.]
1.
The flower or corol of a plant; a general term, applicable to every species of tree or plant, but more generally used than flower or bloom, when we have reference to the fruit which is to succeed. Thus we use flowers,when we speak of shrubs cultivated for ornament; and bloom, in a more general sense, as flowers in general, or in reference to the beauty of flowers.
2.
This word is used to denote the color of a horse, that has his hair white,but intermixed with sorrel and bay hairs; otherwise, peach-colored.

Definition 2024

Blossom

Blossom

See also: blossom

English

Proper noun

Blossom

  1. A hamlet in New York.
  2. A city in Texas.
  3. (rare) A female given name

blossom

blossom

See also: Blossom

English

Apple blossoms.

Alternative forms

  • blasom (Jamaican English)

Noun

blossom ‎(plural blossoms)

  1. A flower, especially indicative of fruit as seen on a fruit tree etc.; taken collectively as the mass of such flowers.
    The blossom has come early this year.
  2. The state or season of producing such flowers.
    The orchard is in blossom.
  3. (figuratively) A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that gives rich promise.
    • Massinger
      in the blossom of my youth
  4. The colour of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with sorrel and bay hairs.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

blossom ‎(third-person singular simple present blossoms, present participle blossoming, simple past and past participle blossomed)

  1. (intransitive) To have or open into blossoms; to bloom.
  2. (intransitive) To begin to thrive or flourish.

Synonyms

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English blosme, from Old English blōstm, blōstma, from Proto-Germanic *blōstama (compare West Frisian blossem, Dutch bloesem), enlargement of *blōstaz (compare German Blust), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃-s- ‎(“bloom, flower”), from *bʰleh₃- ‎(“to thrive, bloom”). Cognate with Latin flōs ‎(“flower”), Flōra ‎(“goddess of plants”), Albanian bleron ‎(“to blossom, thrive”) More at blow.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈblɒ.səm/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈblɑ.səm/

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