bloom

I. noun Etymology: Middle English blome lump of metal, from Old English blōma Date: before 12th century 1. a mass of wrought iron from the forge or puddling furnace 2. a bar of iron or steel hammered or rolled from an ingot II. noun Etymology: Middle English blome, from Old Norse blōm; akin to Old English blōwan to blossom — more at blow Date: 13th century 1. a. flower b. the flowering state <

the roses in bloom

> c. a period of flowering <

the spring bloom

> d. a rapid and excessive growth of a plankton population (as of algae or dinoflagellates) — compare red tide 2. a. a state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor b. a state or time of high development or achievement <

a career in full bloom

> 3. a surface coating or appearance: as a. a delicate powdery coating on some fruits and leaves b. a rosy appearance of the cheeks; broadly an outward evidence of freshness or healthy vigor c. a cloudiness on a film of varnish or lacquer d. a grayish discoloration on chocolate e. glare caused by an object reflecting too much light into a television camera III. verb Date: 13th century intransitive verb 1. a. to produce or yield flowers b. to support abundant plant life <

make the desert bloom

> 2. a. (1) to mature into achievement of one's potential (2) to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, or excellence b. to shine out ; glow 3. to appear or occur unexpectedly or in remarkable quantity or degree 4. to become densely populated with microorganisms and especially plankton — used of bodies of water transitive verb 1. obsolete to cause to bloom 2. to give bloom to