flare

/flɛər/

/flɛ/

Other forms: flared; flaring; flares

A flare is a sudden burst of light. The flare of a lit match in the dark night is strangely beautiful.

The flare of a flame in the dark is sudden and bright, and the flare of an idea or emotion is similarly intense. Parts of clothing that grow wider, like the "bells" on your bell-bottoms — and are also called flares. The verb flare also means to burn brightly or suddenly erupt, like a skin rash that flares up in hot weather or your friend's temper that flares when people tease her about her favorite team losing the big game.

Definitions of flare

1. noun

   a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate
   synonyms: flash

   types:

   star shell

   an artillery shell containing an illuminant

   Bengal light

   a steady bright blue light; formerly used as a signal but now a firework

   Very light, Very-light

   a colored flare fired from a Very pistol

   type of:

   visual signal

   a signal that involves visual communication
2. noun

   a device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification
   types:

   fusee, fuzee

   a colored flare used as a warning signal by trucks and trains

   type of:

   device

   an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
3. noun

   a sudden burst of flame
   type of:

   fire, flame, flaming

   the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
4. noun

   a sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference
   synonyms: solar flare

   type of:

   solar radiation

   radiation from the sun
5. noun

   a sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms
   “a colitis flare”

   “infection can cause a lupus flare”

   type of:

   attack

   a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition
6. noun

   a sudden outburst of emotion
   “she felt a flare of delight”

   “she could not control her flare of rage”

   type of:

   blowup, ebullition, effusion, gush, outburst

   an unrestrained expression of emotion
7. verb

   burn brightly
   “Every star seemed to flare with new intensity”

   synonyms: blaze up, burn up, flame up

   type of:

   burn, combust

   undergo combustion
8. verb

   shine with a sudden light
   “The night sky flared with the massive bombardment”

   synonyms: flame

   type of:

   beam, shine

   emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light
9. verb

   erupt or intensify suddenly
   “Tempers flared at the meeting”

   synonyms: break open, burst out, erupt, flare up, irrupt

   type of:

   deepen, intensify

   become more intense
10. noun

    a shape that spreads outward
    “the skirt had a wide flare”

    synonyms: flair

    type of:

    form, shape

    the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance
11. noun

    reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation
    type of:

    erythroderma

    any skin disorder involving abnormal redness
12. verb

    become flared and widen, usually at one end
    “The bellbottom pants flare out”

    synonyms: flare out

    type of:

    widen

    become broader or wider or more extensive
13. noun

    an unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection)
    type of:

    reflection, reflexion

    the phenomenon of a propagating wave (light or sound) being thrown back from a surface
14. noun

    (baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield
    type of:

    fly, fly ball

    (baseball) a hit that flies up in the air
15. noun

    a short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines
    “he threw a flare to the fullback who was tackled for a loss”

    synonyms: flare pass

    type of:

    aerial, forward pass

    a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer