Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden, brief, bright light or flame: A burst of light or fire that appears quickly and often intensely.
   • A device producing a bright signal light: A pyrotechnic or other device used to produce a bright light for signaling, illumination, or warning.
   • A sudden outburst or intensification: A sudden, often temporary, increase in emotion, activity, or symptoms.
   • A shape that widens outward: A gradual spreading outward, as in the shape of a skirt or a trumpet.
   • An unwanted reflection of light: In photography or optics, a non-image-forming patch of light or fogging caused by stray light.

2. Verb:

   • To burn or shine with a sudden, bright light: To burst into bright, often unsteady, flame or light.
   • To erupt or intensify suddenly: To break out or increase rapidly in intensity, often referring to emotions, conflict, or symptoms.
   • To spread outward: To widen or curve outward gradually.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The sailor used a flare to signal for help. (The sailor used a bright signaling device.)
  • She felt a sudden flare of anger. (She felt a sudden outburst of anger.)
  • The dress has a slight flare at the hem. (The dress widens slightly at the bottom.)

• Verb:

  • The match flared in the darkness. (The match burned with a sudden bright light.)
  • Tensions flared during the debate. (Tensions intensified suddenly.)
  • These trousers flare from the knee downwards. (These trousers widen from the knee down.)

Advanced Usage

• "Solar flare": A sudden, powerful eruption of electromagnetic radiation from the sun's surface.

  • The solar flare caused radio blackouts on Earth.

• "Flare-up" (noun): A sudden outbreak or worsening, especially of a disease, conflict, or fire.

  • He experienced a painful flare-up of his arthritis.

Variants and Related Words

• Flared (adj.): Describing something that widens outward.

  • She wore flared jeans.

• Flaring (adj./n.): The act of burning with a sudden light or the state of spreading outward.

  • The flaring torch lit the cave. (adj.)
  • The flaring of the skirt is elegant. (n.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Flash, blaze, outburst, signal, widening.
• Verb: Blaze, flash, erupt, intensify, widen.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Flare out: To spread or widen outward; to burn suddenly.

  • The road flares out into a large square.
  • The fire flared out when he added more wood.

• Flare up: To suddenly become more intense, especially anger, violence, pain, or fire.

  • Her temper flared up unexpectedly.
  • The infection flared up again.

Related Idioms

• (To be) in a flare: To be in a state of sudden anger or excitement. (Less common, but related to the "outburst" meaning).
  • He was in a flare after hearing the news.

Noun

1. (baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield
2. a short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines
   • he threw a flare to the fullback who was tackled for a loss
3. a device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification
4. a sudden outburst of emotion
   • she felt a flare of delight
   • she could not control her flare of rage
5. am unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection)
6. a sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference
7. a sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms
   • a colitis flare
   • infection can cause a lupus flare
8. reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation
9. a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate
10. a sudden burst of flame
11. a shape that spreads outward
    • the skirt had a wide flare

Verb

1. erupt or intensify suddenly
   • Unrest erupted in the country
   • Tempers flared at the meeting
   • The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism
2. shine with a sudden light
   • The night sky flared with the massive bombardment
3. become flared and widen, usually at one end
   • The bellbottom pants flare out
4. burn brightly
   • Every star seemed to flare with new intensity