blush

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) An act of blushing; a pink or red glow on the face caused by embarrassment, shame, shyness, love, etc.
2. (countable, uncountable) A glow; a flush of colour, especially pink or red.
3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A feeling or appearance of optimism.
4. (countable, uncountable) A sort of makeup, frequently a powder, used to redden the cheeks.
5. (countable, uncountable) A color between pink and cream.
6. (US, countable, uncountable) A pale pink wine made by removing the dark grape skins at the required point during fermentation.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To become red or pink in the face (and sometimes experience an associated feeling of warmth), especially due to shyness, love, shame, excitement, or embarrassment.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To be shy, ashamed, or embarrassed (to do something).
3. (intransitive) To become red or pink.
4. (transitive) To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to pinken; to make rosy.
5. (copulative) To change skin color in the face (to a particular shade).
6. (transitive) To express or make known by blushing.
7. (intransitive) To have a warm and delicate colour, like some roses and other flowers.
8. (intransitive, obsolete) To glance with the eye, cast a glance.
9. (intransitive) Of dope or varnish: to develop an undesirable white precipitate on the surface, due to being applied in humid conditions.

Synonyms

flush

redden

turn red

become red

colour

be ashamed

color

redness

ashamed

go red

crimson

color

be bashful

blushing

colour

blusher

bloom

feel shy

glow

rosiness

feel shame

turn pink

discolour

rose

🌹

beam

rouge

ruddiness

ruddle

ruddy

shocked

shy

surprised

deep red

be abashed

damask

change color

change colour

dye red

complexion

be modest

blotch

be shy of

shame

bashful

flush with color

charlie balled

makeups

pink

feel ashamed

Translations

rougir

erröten

😊

arrossire

😊

rot werden

rossore

blozen

😊

ruborizarse

vergognarsi

sonrojarse

κοκκινίζω

kleuren

rougeur

ruborizar

😊

Schamröte

😊

Pronounced as (IPA)

/blʌʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: blusshen

Inherited from Old English: blysċan

Cognate with Middle Low German: blöschen

Cognate with Old English: blysian

Cognate with Dutch: blozen

Cognate with Danish: blusse

Cognate with Old Norse: blys

Cognate with Danish: blus

In summary

From Middle English blusshen, bluschen, blusschen, blisshen, from Old English blysċan (“to be red; shine”), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *blaskijaną, from *blasǭ (“burning candle; torch”) or alternatively from Proto-Germanic *bluskijaną, from *blusjǭ (“torch”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-.
Cognate with Middle Low German blöschen (“to blush”). Compare also Old English blysian (“to burn; blaze”), Dutch blozen (“to blush”), Danish blusse (“to blush”), Old Norse blys (“torch”), Danish blus (“blaze”).