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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary flour·ish
ETYMOLOGY Middle English florisshen, from Anglo-French fluriss-, stem of flurir, florir, from Vulgar Latin *florire, alteration of Latin florēre, from flor-, flos flower DATE 14th century intransitive verb 1. to grow luxuriantly : thrive 2. a. to achieve success : prosper a flourishing business b. to be in a state of activity or production flourished around 1850 c. to reach a height of development or influence 3. to make bold and sweeping gestures transitive verb : to wield with dramatic gestures : brandish Synonyms: see swing • flour·ish·er noun
noun DATE circa 1552 1. an act or instance of brandishing or waving 2. a. a florid bit of speech or writing rhetorical flourishes b. an ornamental stroke in writing or printing c. a decorative or finishing detail a house with clever little flourishes 3. fanfare 4. a. a period of thriving b. a luxuriant growth or profusion a flourish of white hair a springtime flourish of color 5. showiness in the doing of something opened the door with a flourish 6. a sudden burst a flourish of activity English Etymology flourish c.1300, "to blossom, grow," from O.Fr . floriss-, stem of florir, from L. florere "to bloom, blossom, flower," from flos "a flower" (see flora). Metaphoric sense of "thrive" is mid-14c. Meaning "to brandish (a weapon)" first attested late 14c. The noun meaning "literary or rhetorical embellishment" is from c.1600.http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 flourish flour·ish / 5flQriF; NAmE 5flE:riF / verb1. [V] to develop quickly and be successful or common 繁荣；昌盛；兴旺 SYN thrive :
Few businesses are flourishing in the present economic climate. 在目前的经济气候下,很少有企业兴旺发达。 2. [V] to grow well; to be healthy and happy SYN thrive
茁壮成长；健康幸福: These plants flourish in a damp climate. 这些植物在潮湿的气候下长势茂盛。 (especially BrE) I'm glad to hear you're all flourishing. 听说你们都健康幸福,我感到高兴。 3. [VN] to wave sth around in a way that makes people look at it (为引起注意)挥舞noun1. [usually sing.] an exaggerated movement that you make when you want sb to notice you (为引起注意的)夸张动作: He opened the door for her with a flourish. 他做了一个夸张动作为她开了门。 2. [usually sing.] an impressive act or way of doing sth 给人深刻印象的行动；令人难忘的方式: The season ended with a flourish for Owen, when he scored in the final minute of the match. 欧文以一个惊人之举结束了这个赛季:他在比赛最后一分钟进了球。 3. details and decoration that are used in speech or writing (讲话或文章的)华丽辞藻,修饰: a speech full of rhetorical flourishes 满篇华丽辞藻的演讲 4. a curved line, that is used as decoration, especially in writing (尤指手写体的)装饰曲线；花彩字 5. [usually sing.] a loud short piece of music, that is usually played to announce an important person or event 花彩号声: a flourish of trumpets 小号齐鸣 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English flourish noun ADJ. final | dramatic, rhetorical, theatrical a speech full of rhetorical flourishes VERB + FLOURISH end in/with, finish with | start (off) with | sign with Bill signed on the bottom line with a flourish. PREP. with a ~ With a final flourish she laid down her pen. PHRASES a flourish of trumpets Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition n. Function: verb Synonyms: SUCCEED 3, arrive, go, make out, prosper, score, thrive Related Words: bloom, blossom, flower; augment, increase, multiply; amplify, expand; develop, grow, wax Contrasted Words: shrivel, wither; contract, shrink; abate, ebb, subside, wane Antonyms: languish Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged flour·ish I. \ˈflər.]ish, ˈflə.r], ]ēsh, chiefly in pres part ]əsh\ verb (-ed/-ing/-es) Etymology: Middle English florisshen, from Middle French floriss-, stem of florir, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin florire, alteration of Latin florēre, from flor-, flos flower — more at blow (to bloom)intransitive verb 1. chiefly Scotland : to bear flowers : blossom 2. : to grow luxuriantly : increase and enlarge : thrive — used chiefly of plants and animals < blueberries flourish best on an acid soil > 3. a. : to be prosperous : increase in wealth, honor, comfort, happiness, or whatever is desirable : prosper b. : to be in a state of activity or production — used chiefly of creative workers (as painters or writers) c. : to reach a height of development or influence — used chiefly of technical, artistic, or philosophic schools of thought 4. a. : to play a fanciful or improvised bit of music by way of ornament or prelude b. : to play a fanfare on trumpets c. : to play with a flourish 5. : boast , brag < spent the evening flourishing over a bottle or two > 6. : to use florid language : be flowery in speech or writing 7. : to make bold and sweeping movements or gestures especially by way of show or in bravado < flourishing about the streets > transitive verb 1. : to adorn or decorate especially with flowers or figures : ornament < the corners flourished with little silver cherubs > 2. : to move about in bold and sweeping figures < flourished his cane angrily at the children > 3. obsolete a. : to embellish with rhetorical figures or ostentatious eloquence b. : to illuminate (a manuscript) with color or decorative figures Synonyms: see succeed , swing II. noun (-es) 1. chiefly Scotland : bloom or blossom especially on a fruit tree < the flourish of the apple trees > 2. obsolete : blooming state or luxuriant growth usually of plants or vegetation 3. a. obsolete : showy decoration or embellishment b. : a florid bit of writing or speech (as a complicated figure or an ornate metaphor) c. : a purely ornamental stroke usually attached to or enveloping a letter or meaningful figure in a writing or engraving 4. a. : fanfare b. : a florid musical passage 5. : the waving of a weapon or other thing < with a last flourish of her handkerchief > < gave his cloak a flourish as he stepped from the coach > : a brandishing especially in salute or signal < greeted him with a flourish of his cane > < caught the auctioneer's eye with a flourish of his catalog > 6. : a showiness or ostentation in the performance of something often intended to call forth or fix attention or admiration < introduced his guest with a flourish > < if I've got to give her a debut I'll do it with a flourish > |
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