flare

Meaning

Noun

1. A sudden bright light.
2. A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
3. A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
4. A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
5. (figuratively) A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up.
6. A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.
7. A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.
8. (in-plural) Bell-bottom trousers.
9. The transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
10. A low fly ball that is hit in the region between the infielders and the outfielders.
11. A route run by the running back, releasing toward the sideline and then slightly arcing upfield looking for a short pass.
12. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of lens flare.
13. An inflammation such as of tendons (tendonitis) or joints (osteoarthritis).
14. A breakdance move of someone helicoptering his torso on alternating arms.

Verb

1. (transitive) To cause to burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas.
2. (transitive) To cause inflammation; to inflame.
3. (ambitransitive) To open outward in shape.
4. (ambitransitive) To (operate an aircraft to) transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
5. (intransitive) To blaze brightly.
6. (intransitive) To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.
7. (figuratively, intransitive) To shine out with gaudy colours; to be offensively bright or showy.
8. (figuratively, intransitive) To suddenly happen or intensify.
9. (figuratively, intransitive) To suddenly erupt in anger.
10. (intransitive, obsolete) To be exposed to too much light.

Opposite of

tumblehome

Synonyms

flash

blaze

flame

gleam

flare up

sparkle

❇️

flicker

glare

flame up

burn

torch

solar flare

glint

glow

burn up

erupt

spread out

flare out

shine

flair

flare pass

beacon

twinkle

spread

widen

shimmer

blaze up

jet

irrupt

light

burst out

expand

beam

glitter

break open

scintillate

star shell

exacerbation

eruption

eructation

bolt

eradiate

effulgence

broaden

eclat

generalize

generalise

ebullition

brilliance

blink

Translations

flackern

schitteren

bengala

llamarada

fusée éclairante

flikkeren

chamejar

flakkeren

coruscar

vaciller

Fackel

scintiller

❇️

wapperen

flamejar

bagliore

Pronounced as (IPA)

/flɛə̯/

Etymology

Cognate with Latin: flagrō

Cognate with Norwegian: flara

Cognate with Middle High German: vlederen

Cognate with German: flattern

In summary

Origin unknown, first recorded in the mid 16th century, probably related to Latin flagrō (“I burn”). Norwegian flara (“to blaze; to flaunt in gaudy attire”) has a similar meaning, but the English word predates it. Possibly related to Middle High German vlederen (“to flutter”), represented by modern German flattern.
The noun is derived from the verb.