bloom
Pronunciation: (blm), [key]
— n.
- the flower of a plant.
- flowers collectively: the bloom of the cherry tree.
- state of having the buds opened: The gardens are all in bloom.
- a flourishing, healthy condition; the time or period of greatest beauty, artistry, etc.: the bloom of youth; the bloom of Romanticism.
- a glow or flush on the cheek indicative of youth and health: a serious illness that destroyed her bloom.
- the glossy, healthy appearance of the coat of an animal.
- a moist, lustrous appearance indicating freshness in fish.
- redness or a fresh appearance on the surface of meat.
- a whitish powdery deposit or coating, as on the surface of certain fruits and leaves: the bloom of the grape.
- any similar surface coating or appearance: the bloom of newly minted coins.
- any of certain minerals occurring as powdery coatings on rocks or other minerals.
- Also calleda clouded or dull area on a varnished or lacquered surface.
- the sudden development of conspicuous masses of organisms, as algae on the surface of a lake.
- image spread produced by excessive exposure of highlights in a television image.
- to remove the enjoyment or ultimate satisfaction from; dampen the enthusiasm over: The coach's illness took the bloom off the team's victory.
—v.i.
- to produce or yield blossoms.
- to flourish or thrive: a recurrent fad that blooms from time to time.
- 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.
- to glow with warmth or with a warm color.
—v.t.
- to cause to yield blossoms.
- to make bloom or cause to flourish: a happiness that blooms the cheek.
- to invest with luster or beauty: an industry that blooms one's talents.
- to cause a cloudy area on (something shiny); dampen; chill: Their breath bloomed the frosty pane.
- to coat (a lens) with an antireflection material.
bloom
Pronunciation: (blm), [key]
— Metalworking. Metalworking.
—n.
- a piece of steel, square or slightly oblong in section, reduced from an ingot to dimensions suitable for further rolling.
- 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.
- to make (an ingot) into a bloom.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.