flare

I. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1580 1. a. a fire or blaze of light used especially to signal, illuminate, or attract attention; also a device or composition used to produce such a flare 2. an unsteady glaring light b. solar flare; also a sudden increase and decrease in the brightness of a star often amounting to a difference of several magnitudes 3. a. a sudden outburst (as of excitement or anger) b. flare-up 3 4. a. a spreading outward; also a place or part that spreads b. an area of skin flush 5. light resulting from reflection (as between lens surfaces) or an effect of this light (as a fogged or dense area in a photographic negative) 6. a. a short pass in football thrown to a back who is running toward the sideline b. a weakly hit fly ball in baseball <

a flare into short right field

> 7. plural pants that flare toward the bottom II. verb (flared; flaring) Date: 1616 intransitive verb 1. a. to burn with an unsteady flame b. to stream in the wind 2. a. to shine with a sudden light <

a match flares in the darkness

> b. (1) to become suddenly excited or angry — usually used with up (2) to break out or intensify usually suddenly or violently — often used with up <

fighting flared up after a 2-week lull

> c. to express strong emotion (as anger) <

flaring out at such abuses

> 3. to open or spread outward <

the pants flare at the bottom

> transitive verb 1. to display conspicuously <

flaring her scarf to attract attention

> 2. to cause to flare <

the breeze flares the candle

> 3. to signal with a flare or by flaring 4. to burn (a jet of waste gas) in the open air