Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden reddening of the face: A blush is the red color that appears on a person's face, typically due to feelings of embarrassment, guilt, shame, or modesty.
   • A rosy color, especially in the cheeks: A blush can also refer to a healthy, rosy complexion or a pinkish hue.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become rosy or reddish: To blush means for one's skin, especially the face, to turn a pink or red color, often from a physical cause like cold or exertion.
   • To turn red in the face from emotion: To blush most commonly means to have one's face become red due to feelings of embarrassment, shame, shyness, or pleasure.

Examples

• Noun:

  • She felt a deep blush spread across her cheeks when she realized her mistake.
  • The cold wind gave her face a healthy blush.

• Verb:

  • He blushed with pride when the teacher praised his work.
  • The sky began to blush with the first light of dawn.

Advanced Usage

• At first blush: Upon first glance or impression; initially.
  • At first blush, the plan seemed perfect, but we soon found problems.
• To spare someone's blushes: To avoid doing something that would cause someone embarrassment.
  • He didn't mention her mistake to spare her blushes.

Variants and Related Words

• Blusher (noun): A cosmetic used to add color to the cheeks; a person who blushes easily.
  • She applied a little blusher to her cheeks.
• Blushful (adjective): Full of blushes; rosy.
  • She gave a blushful smile. (Note: This is a literary or somewhat old-fashioned term.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Flush, redness, rosiness, glow.
• Verb: Flush, redden, color, crimson.

Related Phrases

• To blush to the roots of one's hair: To blush very deeply or intensely.
  • When he complimented her, she blushed to the roots of her hair.
• To blush like a rose: To blush beautifully or becomingly.

Noun

1. sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)
2. a rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health

Verb

1. become rosy or reddish
   • her cheeks blushed in the cold winter air
2. turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
   • The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by