Flourish

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/
• US IPA: /ˈflɝ.ɪʃ/

Origin

From Middle English florisshen, flurisshen, from Old French floriss-, stem of some conjugated forms of florir, (French fleurir), from Vulgar Latin florire, from Latin flōreō ("I bloom"), from flōs ("flower"). See flower + -ish.

Full definition of flourish

Verb

1. (intransitive) To thrive or grow well.
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 1, 'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
2. The barley flourished in the warm weather.
3. (intransitive) To prosper or fare well.
   The town flourished with the coming of the railway.
   The cooperation flourished as the customers rushed in the business.
• NelsonBad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness.
4. (intransitive) To be in a period of greatest influence.
   His writing flourished before the war.
5. (transitive) To develop; to make thrive; to expand.
• Francis BaconBottoms of thread ... which with a good needle, perhaps may be flourished into large works.
6. (transitive) To make bold, sweeping movements with.
   They flourished the banner as they stormed the palace.
7. (intransitive) To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion.
• Alexander PopeImpetuous spread the stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head.
8. (intransitive) To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions.
• J. WattsThey dilate ... and flourish long on little incidents.
9. (intransitive) To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures.
10. (transitive) To adorn with beautiful figures or rhetoric; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish.
11. (intransitive) To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude.
• ShakespeareWhy do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?
12. (intransitive, obsolete) To boast; to vaunt; to brag.

Synonyms

Noun

1. A dramatic gesture such as the waving of a flag.With many flourishes of the captured banner, they marched down the avenue.
2. An ornamentation.His signature ended with a flourish.
3. (music) A ceremonious passage such as a fanfare.The trumpets blew a flourish as they entered the church.
4. (architecture) A decorative embellishment on a building.