bloom, blossom

bloom, blossom
Each of these words refers to the flower of a plant. One may correctly say "The cherry tree is in bloom" or "It is in blossom." One may also say "The cherry tree bloomed" or "It blossomed." When used figuratively, that is, in a nonliteral sense, these words have slightly different applications. One would refer to the bloom (not the blossom) of youth. One would more suitably write "The slight youth blossomed into a sturdy athlete" than "He bloomed into one." Why not use flower and avoid worrying about the minor distinctions involved?

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bloom — bloom, blossom Cherry trees are said to be in blossom, roses in bloom. The difference corresponds largely to that between trees whose blossom is a sign of fruit to come and plants whose flowers are a culmination in themselves. In figurative uses… …   Modern English usage

  • blossom — bloom, blossom Cherry trees are said to be in blossom, roses in bloom. The difference corresponds largely to that between trees whose blossom is a sign of fruit to come and plants whose flowers are a culmination in themselves. In figurative uses… …   Modern English usage

  • blossom — See bloom, blossom …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • bloom — See bloom, blossom …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • blossom — n flower, bloom, blow (see under BLOSSOM vb) blossom vb Blossom, bloom, flower, blow are comparable as verbs when meaning to become florescent and as nouns when meaning the period or state of florescence or (except for blow) meaning the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Blossom — Blos som (bl[o^]s s[u^]m), n. [OE. blosme, blostme, AS. bl[=o]sma, bl[=o]stma, 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,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bloom — Bloom, n. [OE. blome, fr. Icel. bl?m, bl?mi; akin to Sw. blom, Goth. bl?ma, OS. bl?mo, D. bloem, OHG. bluomo, bluoma, G. blume; fr. the same root as AS. bl?wan to blow, blossom. See {Blow} to bloom, and cf. {Blossom}.] 1. A blossom; the flower of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • blossom — [n] flower bloom, bud, efflorescence, floret, floweret, inflorescence, posy, spike; concept 425 blossom [v1] flower bloom, blow, burgeon, burst, effloresce, leaf, open, outbloom, shoot, unfold; concept 427 Ant. fade, shrink, shrivel, wither… …   New thesaurus

  • bloom — n flower, blow, blossom (see under BLOSSOM vb) bloom vb flower, blow, *blossom Analogous words: flourish, thrive, prosper (see SUCCEED) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • blossom — ► NOUN 1) a flower or a mass of flowers on a tree or bush. 2) the state or period of flowering. ► VERB 1) (of a tree or bush) produce blossom. 2) develop in a promising or healthy way. ORIGIN Old English, related to BLOOM(Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”