n (1) 花 (flower， esp of fruit trees or flowering shrub) [C]：Apple/Orange～s have a lovely odour (scent).苹果树/橘子树的花有一股宜人的香气。There were millions of～s.有数不尽的花。What a beautiful～! 多美的花! 〖同〗flower，bloom;

(2) 花团(簇，丛) (flowers on a single tree or shrub， considered together)[U]：The tree was dense with/heavy with/covered in～.那树开满了花。There is no～on the tree this year.今年这棵树没开花。 apple/cherry～苹果/樱桃花;

in (full) blossom正开花;处于鼎盛时期：The apple tree is in full～.苹果树正在开花。Their friendship is in full～.他们的友谊之花正艳。

vi (1) 开花 ((of a tree or shrub) produce flowers)[I]：The apple/cherry tree is～ing. 苹果/樱桃树正在开花。My trees have～ed. 我的树开花了。〖同〗flower，bloom;〖反〗die;

(2) 发展，兴旺 (develop; flourish) [I， I+prep (into)，I+adv (out)，I+adv (out)+prep(into)](fig)：Their partnership/romance is～ing.他们的合作/风流艳事正在发展。Literary societies～ed during the 19th century.19世纪文学社团普遍发展起来。The composer～ed very early in life.这位作曲家很年轻时就才华横溢。Their friendship～ed into love and finally marriage.他们的友谊发展成了爱情，最后喜结连理。The tunesmith～ed out into a famous composer.那流行歌曲作者成了著名的作曲家。〖同〗develop，grow，bloom，flourish;〖反〗fade;

(3) 出落得花儿似的 ((esp of a woman or girl)develop attractive qualities)[I，I+prep(into)，I+adv(out)，I+adv(out)+prep (into)]：She is～ing/has～ed (out) (into a beautiful girl/lovely young woman).她正/已出落(成一个漂亮的姑娘/可爱的少妇)了。She has～ed into a real beauty.她真正出落成了美人儿。I see my daughter is～ing out. 我看得出我女儿正在出落成大姑娘。

(4) 变得活泼快乐 (become more lovely and gay)[I， I+adv(out/forth)]：He used to be very quiet/shy， but now he has really～ed out.他以前很文静/害羞，可现在变得活泼了。

【辨异】bloom与blossom的区别见BLOOM。