flare
/flɛɚ̯/ verb C2- To cause to burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas.
- To cause inflammation; to inflame.
- To open outward in shape. · The cat flared its nostrils while sniffing at the air. (transitive)· The cat’s nostrils flared when it sniffed at the air. (intransitive)
- To (operate an aircraft to) transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
- To blaze brightly. · The blast furnace flared in the night.
- To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light. · The candle flared in a sudden draught.
- To shine out with gaudy colours; to be offensively bright or showy.
- To suddenly happen or intensify.
He/she/it flares · Past flared · Past participle flared · -ing form flaring
Verb forms
- Base form
- flare
- He/she/it
- flares
- Past
- flared
- Past participle
- flared
- -ing form
- flaring
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
A LAMP, soaked with too much oil and flaring brightly, boasted that it gave more light than the sun.
A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls, but it was blotched in places with mildew, and here and there great strips had become detached and hung down, exposing the yellow plaster beneath.
He flung the fire pot on the ground, and some of the red coals lit a tuft of dried moss that flared up, as all the Council drew back in terror before the leaping flames.
With rows of flaring torches to light it up, and the colour and rude hilarity of an old-time banquet, it might have softened; but now, when two black-clothed gentlemen sat in the little circle of light thrown by a shaded lamp, one’s voice became hushed and one’s spirit subdued.
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