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   flare

   /fler/

   noun

   • 1. a sudden brief burst of bright flame or light: "the flare of the match lit up his face" Similar blazeflashdazzleglareburstunsteady flameflickerglimmershimmergleam
   • ▪ a device producing a bright flame, used especially as a signal or marker: "a flare gun" Similar distress signalrocketVery lightbeaconlightflashlightsignal
   • ▪ a sudden burst of intense emotion: "she felt a flare of anger within her" Similar burstrushattackeruptionexplosionboutspasmrare:access
   • ▪ a sudden explosion in the chromosphere and corona of the sun or another star, resulting in an intense burst of radiation.
   • ▪ extraneous illumination on film caused by internal reflection in the camera.
   • 2. a gradual widening, especially of a skirt or pants: "as you knit, add a flare or curve a hem" Similar wideningspread
   • ▪ an upward and outward curve of a vessel's bow, designed to throw the water outward when under way.

   verb

   • 1. burn with a sudden intensity: "the bonfire crackled and flared up" Similar blazeflashflare upflameburn unsteadilyburn violentlyburn upgleamglowglistensparkleglitterflickerglimmerscintillate
   • ▪ (of a light or a person's eyes) glow with a sudden intensity: "her eyes flared at the stinging insult"
   • ▪ (of an emotion) suddenly become manifest in a person or their expression: "alarm flared in her eyes"
   • ▪ (of an illness or chronic medical complaint) recur unexpectedly and cause further discomfort: "Tracy's pain has flared up again, this time almost beyond enduring"
   • ▪ (especially of an argument, conflict, or trouble) suddenly become more violent or intense: "a recurrent border dispute flared up again"
   • ▪ (of a person) suddenly become angry: "she flared up, shouting at Jeff"
   • 2. gradually become wider at one end: "the dress flared out into a huge train"
   • ▪ (of a person's nostrils) dilate: "his head lifted, his nostrils flaring" Similar spreadbroadenwidenget widerexpandsplaydilate
   • ▪ (of a person) cause (the nostrils) to dilate.

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in the sense ‘spread out one's hair’): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th century.

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • F

     4

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

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   • E

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