¹flare

noun \ˈfler\

: a light that shines brightly and briefly

: a very bright light that is used to give a signal, to light up something, or to attract attention; also : a device that produces such a light

: a sudden expression of anger

Full Definition of FLARE

a : a fire or blaze of light used especially to signal, illuminate, or attract attention; also : a device or composition used to produce such a flare

: an unsteady glaring light

b : solar flare; also : a sudden increase and decrease in the brightness of a star often amounting to a difference of several magnitudes

a : a sudden outburst (as of excitement or anger)

b : flare-up 3

a : a spreading outward; also : a place or part that spreads

b : an area of skin flush

: light resulting from reflection (as between lens surfaces) or an effect of this light (as a fogged or dense area in a photographic negative)

a : a short pass in football thrown to a back who is running toward the sideline

b : a weakly hit fly ball in baseball <a flare into short right field>

plural : pants that flare toward the bottom

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Origin of FLARE

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1580

Related to FLARE

Synonyms: burst, outbreak, flare-up, flash, flicker, flurry, flutter, outburst, spurt

Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith

Rhymes with FLARE

air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare

²flare

verb

: to shine or burn suddenly and briefly

: to become suddenly excited, angry, or active

: to open or spread outward

flaredflar·ing

Full Definition of FLARE

intransitive verb

a : to burn with an unsteady flame

b : to stream in the wind

a : to shine with a sudden light <a match flares in the darkness>

b (1) : to become suddenly excited or angry —usually used with up (2) : to break out or intensify usually suddenly or violently —often used with up

c : to express strong emotion (as anger)

: to open or spread outward <the pants flare at the bottom>

transitive verb

: to display conspicuously <flaring her scarf to attract attention>

: to cause to flare <the breeze flares the candle>

: to signal with a flare or by flaring

: to burn (a jet of waste gas) in the open air

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