blossom

v. i. [ For blithesome: but cf. also Icel. bl&unr_;sma of a goat at heat. ] To be lustful; to be lascivious. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Blossomed p. pr. & vb. n. Blossoming. ] [ AS. bl&unr_;stmian. See Blossom, n. ] 1. To put forth blossoms or flowers; to bloom; to blow; to flower. [ 1913 Webster ]

The moving whisper of huge trees that branched
And blossomed. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To flourish and prosper; to develop into a superior type. [ 1913 Webster ]

Israel shall blossom and bud, and full the face of the world with fruit. Isa. xxvii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. to appear or grow as if by blossoming; to spread out rapidly. [ PJC ]

n. [ OE. blosme, blostme, AS. blōsma, blōstma, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that gives rich promise. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the blossom of my youth. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The color of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with sorrel and bay hairs; -- otherwise called peach color. [ 1913 Webster ]

In blossom, having the blossoms open; in bloom. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the process of budding and unfolding of blossoms.
Syn. -- flowering, inflorescence, anthesis, efflorescence. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Without blossoms. [ 1913 Webster ]