flare
UK /flɛə̯/ · US /flɛɚ̯/ noun, verb
Forms flares flaring flared
- noun A sudden bright light.
- noun A source of brightly burning light or intense heat. “solar flare”
- noun A type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light without an explosion, used to attract attention in an emergency, to illuminate an area, or as a decoy. “Flares were used to steer the traffic away from the accident.”
- noun (oil industry) A flame produced by a burn-off of waste gas (flare gas) from a flare tower (or flare stack), typically at an oil refinery.
- noun (figuratively) A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up.
- noun A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width. “During assembly of a flare tube fitting, a flare nut is used to secure the flared tubing’s tapered end to the also tapered fitting, producing a pressure-resistant, leak-tight seal.”
- noun (nautical) The increase in width of most ship hulls with increasing height above the waterline.
- noun (in the plural) Bell-bottom trousers.
- verb (transitive) To cause to burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas.
- verb (transitive) To cause inflammation; to inflame.
- verb (ambitransitive) To open outward in shape. “The cat flared its nostrils while sniffing at the air. (transitive)”
- verb (ambitransitive, aviation) To (operate an aircraft to) transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
- verb (intransitive) To blaze brightly. “The blast furnace flared in the night.”
- verb (intransitive) To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light. “The candle flared in a sudden draught.”
- verb (intransitive, figuratively) To shine out with gaudy colours; to be offensively bright or showy.
- verb (intransitive, figuratively) To suddenly happen or intensify.
Synonyms
flareout blooper Texas leaguer flare-up flare up flair flash solar flare flare pass flame up blaze up burn up flare out flame erupt irrupt break open burst out
Antonyms
Etymology
Origin uncertain, first recorded in the mid 16th century, probably related to Latin flagrō (“to burn”). Norwegian flara (“to blaze; to flaunt in gaudy attire”) has a similar meaning, but the English word predates it. Possibly related to Middle High German vlederen (“to flutter”), represented by modern German flattern.
The noun is derived from the verb.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.
- verb To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.
- noun An unsteady, broad, offensive light.
- noun A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.
Etymology [Cf. Norw. flara to blaze, flame, adorn with tinsel, dial. Sw. flasa upp, and E. flash, or flacker.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “flare”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details