blossom
- A flower or mass of flowers on a tree or plant; to produce flowers or to develop and flourish.
In a sentence
- The cherry trees were in full blossom, showering pink petals across the courtyard.
- Under her mentor's guidance, she began to blossom into a confident and skilled writer.
Usage note. As a verb, 'blossom' often carries a warmer, more gradual connotation than 'bloom'; it suggests slow, promising development rather than sudden opening.
Where it comes from
English blossom — “flower; to flourish” · entered English pre-12th c.
From Old English 'blostma' or 'blostm' (flower, blossom), derived from Proto-Germanic *blōstmaz. Related to Old High German 'bluozan' and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European *bhleh₃- (to thrive, bloom). Entered Old English before the 12th century. (Source: Oxford, Etymonline)