| bloom 1 (def. 13). |
[bloom] 
| 1. | the flower of a plant. |
| 2. | flowers collectively: the bloom of the cherry tree. |
| 3. | state of having the buds opened: The gardens are all in bloom. |
| 4. | a flourishing, healthy condition; the time or period of greatest beauty, artistry, etc.: the bloom of youth; the bloom of Romanticism. |
| 5. | a glow or flush on the cheek indicative of youth and health: a serious illness that destroyed her bloom. |
| 6. | the glossy, healthy appearance of the coat of an animal. |
| 7. | a moist, lustrous appearance indicating freshness in fish. |
| 8. | redness or a fresh appearance on the surface of meat. |
| 9. | Botany. a whitish powdery deposit or coating, as on the surface of certain fruits and leaves: the bloom of the grape. |
| 10. | any similar surface coating or appearance: the bloom of newly minted coins. |
| 11. | any of certain minerals occurring as powdery coatings on rocks or other minerals. |
| 12. | Also called chill. a clouded or dull area on a varnished or lacquered surface. |
| 13. | Also called algal bloom, water bloom. the sudden development of conspicuous masses of organisms, as algae, on the surface of a body of water. |
| 14. | Television. image spread produced by excessive exposure of highlights in a television image. |
| 15. | to produce or yield blossoms. |
| 16. | to flourish or thrive: a recurrent fad that blooms from time to time. |
| 17. | to be in or achieve a state of healthful beauty and vigor: a sickly child who suddenly bloomed; a small talent that somehow bloomed into major artistry. |
| 18. | to glow with warmth or with a warm color. |
| 19. | to cause to yield blossoms. |
| 20. | to make bloom or cause to flourish: a happiness that blooms the cheek. |
| 21. | to invest with luster or beauty: an industry that blooms one's talents. |
| 22. | to cause a cloudy area on (something shiny); dampen; chill: Their breath bloomed the frosty pane. |
| 23. | Optics. to coat (a lens) with an antireflection material. |
| 24. | take the bloom off, to remove the enjoyment or ultimate satisfaction from; dampen the enthusiasm over: The coach's illness took the bloom off the team's victory. |
| 25. | the bloom is off (the rose), the excitement, enjoyment, interest, etc., has ended or been dampened. |
| water bloom n. A growth of algae at or near the surface of a body of water, such as a pond. |