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 a plant; an expanded bud;
flowers, collectively.
The rich blooms of the tropics. --Prescott.
2. The opening of flowers in general; the state of blossoming
or of having the flowers open; as, the cherry trees are in
bloom. ``Sight of vernal bloom.'' --Milton.
3. A state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor; an
opening to higher perfection, analogous to that of buds
into blossoms; as, the bloom of youth.
Every successive mother has transmitted a fainter
bloom, a more delicate and briefer beauty.
--Hawthorne.
4. The delicate, powdery coating upon certain growing or
newly-gathered fruits or leaves, as on grapes, plums, etc.
Hence: Anything giving an appearance of attractive
freshness; a flush; a glow.
A new, fresh, brilliant world, with all the bloom
upon it. --Thackeray.
5. The clouded appearance which varnish sometimes takes upon
the surface of a picture.
6. A yellowish deposit or powdery coating which appears on
well-tanned leather. --Knight.
7. (Min.) A popular term for a bright-hued variety of some
minerals; as, the rose-red cobalt bloom.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |