from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Blossom \Blos"som\ (bl[o^]s"s[u^]m), n. [OE. blosme, blostme,
AS. bl[=o]sma, bl[=o]stma, blossom; akin to D. bloesem, L.
fios, and E. flower; from the root of E. blow to blossom. See
{Blow} to blossom, and cf. {Bloom} a blossom.]
1. The flower of a plant, or the essential organs of
reproduction, with their appendages; florescence; bloom;
the flowers of a plant, collectively; as, the blossoms and
fruit of a tree; an apple tree in blossom.
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Note: The term has been applied by some botanists, and is
also applied in common usage, to the corolla. It is
more commonly used than flower or bloom, when we have
reference to the fruit which is to succeed. Thus we use
flowers when we speak of plants cultivated for
ornament, and bloom in a more general sense, as of
flowers in general, or in reference to the beauty of
flowers.
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Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day.
--Longfellow.
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2. A blooming period or stage of development; something
lovely that gives rich promise.
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In the blossom of my youth. --Massinger.
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3. The color of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with
sorrel and bay hairs; -- otherwise called peach color.
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{In blossom}, having the blossoms open; in bloom.
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