Category:Blossom

Blos"som, n. Etym: [OE. blosme, blostme, AS. bl, bl, blossom; akin to D. bloesem, L. fios, and E. flower; from the root of E. blow to blossom. See Blow to blossom, and cf. Bloom a blossom.]

1. The flower of a plant, or the essential organs of reproduction, with their appendages; florescence; bloom; the flowers of a plant, collectively; as, the blossoms and fruit of a tree; an apple tree in blossom.

Note: The term has been applied by some botanists, and is also applied in common usage, to the corolla. It is more commonly used than flower or bloom, when we have reference to the fruit which is to succeed. Thus we use flowers when we speak of plants cultivated for ornament, and bloom in a more general sense, as of flowers in general, or in reference to the beauty of flowers. Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day. Longfellow.

2. A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that gives rich promise. In the blossom of my youth. Massinger.

3. The color of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with sorrel and bay hairs; -- otherwise called peach color. In blossom, having the blossoms open; in bloom.

Blossom Blos"som, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blossomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blossoming.] Etym: [AS. bl. See Blossom, n.]

1. To put forth blossoms or flowers; to bloom; to blow; to flower. The moving whisper of huge trees that branched And blossomed. Tennyson.

2. To flourish and prosper. Israel shall blossom and bud, and full the face of the world with fruit. Isa. xxvii. 6.