Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb & adjective Used as an intensive.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A clouded or smoked appearance on the surface of varnish; bloom.
  • noun In dyeing, the addition of an agent, usually stannous chlorid, to the dye-bath, toward the end of the operation, for the purpose of rendering the color lighter and brighter. Also called brightening.
  • Blossoming; flowering; showing blooms.
  • Glowing as with youthful vigor; showing the freshness and beauty of youth.
  • Flourishing; showing high or the highest perfection or prosperity.
  • Great; full-blown; ‘blessed,’ ‘blamed,’ ‘darned,’ etc.: as, he talked like a blooming idiot.
  • noun In metallurgy, same as shingling.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Metal.) The process of making blooms from the ore or from cast iron.
  • adjective Opening in blossoms; flowering.
  • adjective Thriving in health, beauty, and vigor; indicating the freshness and beauties of youth or health.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of bloom.
  • adjective Opening in blossoms; flowering.
  • adjective Thriving in health, beauty, and vigor, vigour; indicating the freshness and beauties of youth or health.
  • adjective UK, euphemistic bloody (in its vulgar senses).
  • adverb euphemistic Bloody; bleeding; extremely
  • noun The act by which something blooms.
  • noun metallurgy The process of making blooms from the ore or from cast iron.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective informal intensifiers
  • noun the organic process of bearing flowers

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably a euphemism for bloody.]

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Examples

  • "It's what I call a blooming shame, that's what!" declared Andy.

    The Airplane Boys among the Clouds or, Young Aviators in a Wreck John Luther Langworthy

  • Anyone know about the timing on these plants as far as blooming is concerned? botanicalann p.s. Last year, one of mine made a baby bulb.

    How to care for your Amaryllis Bulb « Sugar Creek Gardens’ Blog 2009

  • They begin blooming in late spring, continuing in great waves through summer and autumn, only ceasing when the first frost nips them back.

    The New White Knock Out Rose is here!!!! « Sugar Creek Gardens’ Blog 2009

  • Mrs. Waugh readily consented to accompany her favorite, and also to try to induce "Hebe," as she called blooming Marian, to make one of their party.

    The Missing Bride Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth 1859

  • Although people have commented that I look "blooming" - though this could be another word for bloated!!

    bumpsadaisy Diary Entry bumpsadaisy 2006

  • The sweet peas just now started blooming, that is so late, even though they were planted mid February.

    Wordless June Blooms « Fairegarden 2009

  •    She raised her hand to hit then and suddenly stopped, a strange expression blooming on her face as she grabbed her chest, wobbled, and collapsed with a colossal thud, shaking the room, rattling the crystal decanter on the credenza.

    Cats Do It Doggie Style Mark Haskell Smith 2008

  •   She raised her hand to hit then and suddenly stopped, a strange expression blooming on her face as she grabbed her chest, wobbled, and collapsed with a colossal thud, shaking the room, rattling the crystal decanter on the credenza.

    Cats Do It Doggie Style 2008

  • If you're in the area and want current observations from the Anza-Borrego State Park, call the blooming hotline at (760) 767-5311.

    A Much Needed Infusion 2005

  • If you're in the area and want current observations from the Anza-Borrego State Park, call the blooming hotline at (760) 767-5311.

    February 2005 2005

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