blossom
gb/blˈɑsəm/ us/blˈɑsəm/
B2
English
~ 6900
virág, virágzik, kibontakozik, fejlődik, felvirágzik, fénykor, telje
NOUN
B2
1
virág
A1
In April the cherry trees are covered in pale pink blossom.
Áprilisban halvány rózsaszín virágba borulnak a cseresznyefák.
The apple blossom smelled sweet in the evening air.
Az almafavirág édesen illatozott az esti levegőben.
White blossom floated down from the trees like snow.
The garden is full of blossom after the warm weather.
Bees moved from blossom to blossom, collecting nectar.
Learner examples
The trees are in blossom in spring.
A fák tavasszal virágoznak.
I like the pink blossom on the cherry tree.
Szeretem a cseresznyefa rózsaszín virágait.
There is white blossom outside my window.
We took photos of the beautiful blossom in the park.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "blossom" for any flower. In everyday English, "flower" is the usual general word, and "blossom" is most often used for flowers on trees (especially fruit trees) or bushes. Also, both countable and uncountable uses are common: "a blossom" is possible but less common than "blossom" or "blossoms" as a group.
Meaning
Flower on a tree or bush
Collocations
cherry blossom
|apple blossom
|orange blossom
|the trees are in blossom
|spring blossom
|in full blossom
Synonyms
flower (More general term for the colored part of any plant, not only trees or bushes.)
|
bloom (Very close in meaning, but often used more generally for any flowering plant, not especially trees.)
Antonyms
wither (Describes the opposite state, when blossoms dry up and die instead of being fresh and open.)
Themes
nature
|plants
|seasons
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A flower, or many flowers together, on a tree or bush, especially in spring.
The flower or mass of flowers that grow on a tree or bush, especially on fruit trees, usually appearing in spring.
VERB
B2
2
virágzik
A2
Usage pattern:
[tree/bush] blossoms
The cherry trees will blossom early this year because of the warm winter.
A cseresznyefák idén az enyhe tél miatt korán fognak virágozni.
Our plum tree blossoms beautifully every spring.
A szilvafánk minden tavasszal gyönyörűen virágzik.
By late March, the whole valley had blossomed.
If the weather stays cold, the trees may not blossom properly.
The hedges blossom with tiny white flowers in May.
Learner examples
The cherry trees blossom in April.
A cseresznyefák áprilisban virágoznak.
Our apple tree blossomed last week.
Az almafánk múlt héten virágzott.
Many trees blossom when the weather gets warm.
These bushes blossom every spring.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "the tree is flowering blossoms" or "the tree is making blossoms"; natural English is simply "the tree is blossoming" or "the tree is in blossom."
Meaning
(Of plants) to produce flowers
Collocations
the trees blossom
|cherry trees blossom
|orchards blossom
|begin to blossom
|start to blossom
|have blossomed
Synonyms
flower (Very close in meaning; slightly more general, used for many plants, not only trees or bushes.)
|
bloom (Very close synonym; often interchangeable, though "bloom" is a bit more common in general use.)
Antonyms
wither (Describes the opposite stage, when flowers dry and die instead of appearing and opening.)
Themes
nature
|plants
|seasons
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a tree or bush makes many flowers, usually in spring.
(Of a tree or bush) to produce flowers, usually in large numbers and often in spring.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] blossoms / blossoms into [something]
Their small family business has blossomed into an international brand.
Kis családi vállalkozásuk nemzetközi márkává nőtte ki magát.
Under her new coach, the young player really blossomed.
Az új edzője keze alatt a fiatal játékos igazán kibontakozott.
After moving to art school, he blossomed as a painter.
What started as a simple project blossomed into a lifelong passion.
Their friendship slowly blossomed into love.
Learner examples
Her English has blossomed this year.
Az angoltudása idén rengeteget fejlődött.
The shop has blossomed into a big company.
Az üzlet nagy céggé nőtte ki magát.
After the move, their shy son blossomed at his new school.
Their friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "blossom" only for people and forget it is also common for abstract things like a business, career, or idea. Also, the pattern is usually "blossom" or "blossom into [something]", not *"blossom to" or *"blossom about".
Meaning
To develop in a very good way
Collocations
relationship blossomed
|friendship blossomed
|career blossomed
|business is blossoming
|blossom into a confident adult
|blossom into success
Synonyms
flourish (Very close in meaning; often used for businesses, cultures, or people doing well.)
|
thrive (Focuses on strong, healthy growth or success, often despite difficulty.)
Antonyms
decline (Describes becoming weaker, less successful, or less important, the opposite of blossoming.)
|
wither (Metaphorical opposite: to lose energy, beauty, or success instead of gaining it.)
Themes
emotions
|personal_growth
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To grow or change in a very good way, becoming more successful, confident, or beautiful.
To develop in a very healthy, attractive, or successful way, often after a period of slow or limited growth.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
in the blossom of [youth/life/career]
He died in the very blossom of youth.
Éppen fiatalsága virágában halt meg.
The artist painted her in the blossom of her beauty.
A művész szépsége teljében örökítette meg őt.
This novel was written in the blossom of his career.
In his blossom, he was the finest singer of his generation.
Learner examples
She was in the blossom of youth at that time.
Akkor fiatalsága virágában volt.
The city was in the blossom of its power.
A város ekkor élte hatalmának fénykorát.
He wrote the book in the blossom of his career.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this sense in everyday speech, but in modern English it sounds literary or poetic. In normal conversation, "in her prime" is much more common than "in the blossom of her youth."
Meaning
Time of youth or greatest beauty
Collocations
the blossom of youth
|in full blossom
|in the blossom of her career
|the blossom of life
Synonyms
prime (Very close in meaning; common modern word for the best or strongest time in a person’s life or career.)
|
heyday (Emphasizes the period when success or popularity was greatest, less focused on beauty.)
Antonyms
decline (Refers to the period after the peak, when strength, beauty, or success begins to fall.)
Themes
time
|life_stages
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The time when a person or thing is at their best, most beautiful, or most successful, especially when someone is young.
A period or state when someone or something is at its most beautiful, strong, or successful, especially youth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
blossom
IPA
GB/blˈɑsəm/
US/blˈɑsəm/
Syllables & stress
blos - som (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (blos)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: blossom
- Plural: blossom, blossoms
Verb
- Base: blossom
- 3rd Person Singular: blossoms
- Present Participle: blossoming
- Past: blossomed
Word family
Expressions
blossom into
1/blˈɑsəm ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
Develop into something better
To change and grow into a better, more complete, or more successful form of something.
Examples
- Their idea blossomed into a successful startup.
- Over the year, the shy girl blossomed into a confident speaker.
cherry blossom
1/t͡ʃˈɛɹi blˈɑsəm/
fixed phrase
Flowers of cherry trees
The light pink or white flowers that grow on cherry trees, usually in spring.
Examples
- The city is famous for its cherry blossom in April.
- We went to the park to see the cherry blossom festival.
- Cherry blossom covers the streets with petals when it falls.
come into blossom
1/kˈʌm ˈɪntu blˈɑsəm/
fixed phrase
To start having flowers
To begin to have flowers; to start blossoming.
Examples
- The apple trees usually come into blossom in late March.
- As soon as the trees came into blossom, the bees appeared.
in blossom
1/ˈɪn blˈɑsəm/
fixed phrase
Having flowers on a tree
Used to say that a tree or bush has many open flowers on it.
Examples
- All the orchards are in blossom right now.
- When the almond trees are in blossom, the village looks beautiful.
in the blossom of youth
1/ˈɪn ðə blˈɑsəm əv jˈuθ/
idiom
literary
In the best time of youth
At a very young and beautiful age, when someone is strong and full of life.
Examples
- She died tragically in the blossom of youth.
- The portrait shows the king in the blossom of youth.