n (1) 花(卉) (flower， esp of plants admired chiefly for their flowers) [C]：This plant/That rose has one white～. 这植物/那玫瑰开一朵白花。The～s are withering now.这些花在凋谢。the～of the cherry tree樱桃树的花;What beautiful～s! 多美的花!〖同〗blossom，flower;

(2) 青春，完美(freshness;great perfection or beauty)[U]：be in the～of youth/beauty 正当青春年少/花容年华;have lost the～of youth/beauty韶华/风韵已逝;Her face shone with the～of youth.她的脸青春焕发。Humanism reached full～in the Renaissance.人文主义在文艺复兴时期达到了鼎盛。

(3) 粉霜(衣) (thin powdery coating that forms on ripe plums， grapes or leaves， etc) [U]：the～of the grape/the plums 葡萄/李子上的粉霜;

in (full) bloom (花)盛开：The flowers/roses are all in～.花/玫瑰花盛开。The gardens are all in～.花园都已百花盛开。lovely almond trees in～花儿盛开的美丽杏树;Her genius was in full～. (fig)她正值才华横溢时期。

take the bloom off sth 使光华尽失 (infml)：Many angry quarrels have taken the～off their friendship/their marriage.多次恶言争吵使他们的友谊/婚姻失去了光辉。

vi (1) 开花 (produce， yield， bear flowers) [I]：The roses/trees/plants are～ing. 那些玫瑰/树/植物正在开花。Many plants～in the spring.许多植物春天开花。It has a beautiful orange flower which～s in November.这种植物11月开一种美丽的橘红色花。〖同〗flower，blossom;〖反〗die;

(2) 繁荣，兴旺 (flourish; develop)[I] (fig)：Their friendship is～ing.他们的友谊正在增进。The arts of painting are～ing.绘画艺术正在繁荣。Musical talent usually～s at an early age.音乐天才通常在幼年时就充分展露出来。New playgrounds are～ing across the country.新型运动场风行全国。a recurrent fad that～s from time to time一种不时流行起来的时尚;〖同〗flourish;〖反〗fade;

(3) 草木茂盛，百花盛开((of a garden， etc) become rich in plant life or flowers)[I， I+prep(with)]：The garden is～ing with spring flowers.花园里，春天的花盛开。make the desert～使沙漠变成绿州;

(4) 健康，精力旺盛 ((esp of women) be in a healthy or flourishing condition (because of sth))[I， I+prep(with)] (fig)：She was～ing with happiness/beauty.她显得很幸福/美丽。Mary was～ing with health after her holiday.玛丽休完假后显得神采弈弈。She was ill but is～ing now.她生病来着，但眼下开始有精神了。

【辨异】bloom与blossom都可用作n和v，表示“花”和“开花”。区别在于bloom 指供观赏的“花卉”，而blossom指果树及灌木的花。