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flourish

flour·ish

flourish

 
 
pronunciation:
fluh rIsh
parts of speech:
intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
part of speech: intransitive verb
inflections: flourishes, flourishing, flourished
definition 1: to grow and thrive; be healthy and vigorous.
Ferns do not flourish in direct sunlight.
synonyms:
grow, thrive
antonyms:
atrophy, languish, rot, wilt, wither
similar words:
bloom, blossom, burgeon out, develop, flower, fruit, mature, wax
definition 2: to do well; succeed; prosper.
Businesses flourished during the economic boom.Middle school was hard for her, but she's flourishing now in high school.
synonyms:
blossom, prosper, succeed, thrive
antonyms:
languish
similar words:
bloom, burgeon, progress
definition 3: to be in a period of highest strength, influence, fame or the like.
Vaudeville flourished in the early part of the twentieth century.
synonyms:
bloom
similar words:
burgeon, flower
definition 4: to make sweeping, dramatic movements.
Actors doing Shakespeare seem to me to flourish a great deal, perhaps to communicate better with the audience.
synonyms:
swagger
similar words:
emote, flaunt, gesture, grandstand, ham, overact, overplay, parade, show off, strut
 
part of speech: transitive verb
definition 1: to wave about dramatically; brandish.
The actors flourished their swords in mock battle.
synonyms:
brandish, wave
similar words:
wield
definition 2: to display in a showy or dramatic manner; flaunt.
She flourished her expensive new bracelet in front of her envious friends.
synonyms:
brandish, display, flaunt, parade
similar words:
sport
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: an act or the motion of waving or brandishing.
With a flourish of his baton, the conductor ignited the orchestra.
synonyms:
brandish
similar words:
slash, wave
definition 2: a showy display.
The heiress's flourish of generosity was reported in all the newspapers.
synonyms:
display, parade
similar words:
flaunt, show, swagger
definition 3: an added decorative element in writing or the like.
He added a flourish to his signature.
synonyms:
curlicue
similar words:
adornment, decoration, embellishment, frill, ornament, slash, swirl, whorl
definition 4: an added passage in a musical composition that is intended to be impressive; fanfare.
The final trumpet flourish should be played louder.
similar words:
appoggiatura, cadenza, embellishment, fanfare, grace note
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: flourishing (adj.), flourisher (n.)
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