blaz

n. [ OE. blase, AS. blæse, blase; akin to OHG. blass whitish, G. blass pale, MHG. blas torch, Icel. blys torch; perh. fr. the same root as E. blast. Cf. Blast, Blush, Blink. ] 1. A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat in the process of combustion; a bright flame. “To heaven the blaze uprolled.” Croly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Intense, direct light accompanied with heat; as, to seek shelter from the blaze of the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]

O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon! Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A bursting out, or active display of any quality; an outburst; a brilliant display. “Fierce blaze of riot.” “His blaze of wrath.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

For what is glory but the blaze of fame? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. [ Cf. D. bles; akin to E. blaze light. ] A white spot on the forehead of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark, usually as a surveyor's mark. [ 1913 Webster ]

Three blazes in a perpendicular line on the same tree indicating a legislative road, the single blaze a settlement or neighborhood road. Carlton. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a blaze, on fire; burning with a flame; filled with, giving, or reflecting light; excited or exasperated. --
Like blazes, furiously; rapidly. [ Low ] “The horses did along like blazes tear.” Poem in Essex dialect. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In low language in the U. S., blazes is frequently used of something extreme or excessive, especially of something very bad; as, blue as blazes. Neal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Blaze, Flame. A blaze and a flame are both produced by burning gas. In blaze the idea of light rapidly evolved is prominent, with or without heat; as, the blaze of the sun or of a meteor. Flame includes a stronger notion of heat; as, he perished in the flames. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. blasen to blow; perh. confused with blast and blaze a flame, OE. blase. Cf. Blaze, v. i., and see Blast. ] 1. To make public far and wide; to make known; to render conspicuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

On charitable lists he blazed his name. Pollok. [ 1913 Webster ]

To blaze those virtues which the good would hide. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) To blazon. [ Obs. ] Peacham. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Blazed p. pr. & vb. n. Blazing. ] 1. To shine with flame; to glow with flame; as, the fire blazes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To send forth or reflect glowing or brilliant light; to show a blaze. [ 1913 Webster ]

And far and wide the icy summit blazed. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be resplendent. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

To blaze away, to discharge a firearm, or to continue firing; -- said esp. of a number of persons, as a line of soldiers. Also used (fig.) of speech or action. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who spreads reports or blazes matters abroad. “Blazers of crime.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Anything that blazes or glows, as with heat or flame. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A light jacket, usually of wool or silk and of a bright color, for wear at tennis, cricket, or other sport. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. The dish used when cooking directly over the flame of a chafing-dish lamp, or the coals of a brasier. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Burning with a blaze; as, a blazing fire; blazing torches. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blazing star. (a) A comet. [ Obs. ] (b) A brilliant center of attraction. (c) (Bot.) A name given to several plants; as, to Chamælirium luteum of the Lily family; Liatris squarrosa; and Aletris farinosa, called also colicroot and star grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. any of various North American plants of the genus Liatris having racemes or panicles of small discoid flower heads.
Syn. -- blazing star, button snakeroot, gayfeather, snakeroot. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OE. blason, blasoun, shield, fr. F. blason coat of arms, OF. shield, from the root of AS. blæse blaze, i. e., luster, splendor, MHG. blas torch See Blaze, n. ] 1. A shield. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An heraldic shield; a coat of arms, or a bearing on a coat of arms; armorial bearings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their blazon o'er his towers displayed. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The art or act of describing or depicting heraldic bearings in the proper language or manner. Peacham. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Ostentatious display, either by words or other means; publication; show; description; record. [ 1913 Webster ]

Obtrude the blazon of their exploits upon the company. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit,
Do give thee fivefold blazon. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]