blaze

I. noun Etymology: Middle English blase, from Old English blæse torch; probably akin to Old English bǣl fire — more at bald Date: before 12th century 1. a. an intensely burning fire b. intense direct light often accompanied by heat <

the blaze of TV lights

> c. an active burning; especially a sudden bursting forth of flame 2. something that resembles the blaze of a fire: as a. a dazzling display <

a blaze of color

> b. a sudden outburst <

a blaze of fury

> <

went down in a blaze of glory

> c. plural hell <

go to blazes

> <

as hot as blazes

> II. intransitive verb (blazed; blazing) Date: 13th century 1. a. to burn brightly <

the sun blazed overhead

> b. to flare up ; flame <

inflation blazed up

> 2. to be conspicuously brilliant or resplendent <

fields blazing with flowers

> 3. to shoot rapidly and repeatedly — usually used with away 4. to proceed extremely rapidly ; blast <

blazing down the highway

> III. transitive verb (blazed; blazing) Etymology: Middle English blasen, from Middle Dutch blāsen to blow; akin to Old High German blāst blast Date: 1541 to make public or conspicuous IV. noun Etymology: perhaps from Dutch or Low German bles; akin to Old Norse blesi white stripe on an animal and probably to Old English blæse torch Date: 1639 1. a. a usually white stripe down the center of the face of an animal b. a white or gray streak in the hair of the head 2. a trail marker; especially a mark made on a tree by chipping off a piece of the bark V. transitive verb (blazed; blazing) Date: 1750 1. to mark (as a trail) with blazes 2. to lead in some direction or activity <

blaze new trails in education

>