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Flare

//flɛə̯// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun

1
A sudden bright light.
2
(baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield wordnet
3
A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
"solar flare"
4
a short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines wordnet
5
A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.; A type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light without an explosion, used to attract attention in an emergency, to illuminate an area, or as a decoy.
"Flares were used to steer the traffic away from the accident."

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6
a device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification wordnet
7
A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.; A flame produced by a burn-off of waste gas (flare gas) from a flare tower (or flare stack), typically at an oil refinery.
"Flare stacks are used in gas plants, petroleum refineries, and petrochemical plants to combust surplus hydrocarbons to produce combustion products that are neither toxic nor combustible. Flares frequently incorporate a liquid-gas separator at the base of the stack and steam assisted burner nozzles at the top of the stack to aid complete combustion."
8
a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate wordnet
9
A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up. figuratively
"Antiinflammatory corticosteroid creams and ointments are prescribed for inflamed or lichenified areas. These creams are more effective when applied to damp skin. The lowest potency that controls signs should be used, and topical steroids are usually reserved for treatment of episodic flares."
10
a sudden outburst of emotion wordnet
11
A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.
"During assembly of a flare tube fitting, a flare nut is used to secure the flared tubing’s tapered end to the also tapered fitting, producing a pressure-resistant, leak-tight seal."
12
an unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection) wordnet
13
A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.; The increase in width of most ship hulls with increasing height above the waterline.
14
a sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference wordnet
15
Bell-bottom trousers. in-plural
"In the early 1970's, a giddy epoch in men's fashion, when denim flares and platform oxfords were the outer edge of style, Giorgio Armani made a suit that stretched. Imbued with spandex, the elastic fiber that gives a fabric extra bounce, the suit was one of the first in a long line of innovations that would eventually make Armani as familiar a brand as Kleenex."
16
a sudden burst of flame wordnet
17
The transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
"The captain executed the flare perfectly, and we lightly touched down."
18
a shape that spreads outward wordnet
19
A low fly ball that is hit in the region between the infielders and the outfielders.
"Jones hits a little flare to left that falls for a single."
20
a sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms wordnet
21
A route run by the running back, releasing toward the sideline and then slightly arcing upfield looking for a short pass.
22
reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation wordnet
23
Ellipsis of lens flare. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"The defect in question is the flare which frequently arises from the use of compound lenses when there is a very bright object in front, resulting in a ghost-like image of that object being thrown upon the plate. If the image of the object thus duplicated be in focus we designate it a "ghost;" if out of focus we call it "flare.""
24
An inflammation such as of tendons (tendonitis) or joints (osteoarthritis).
25
A breakdance move of someone helicoptering his torso on alternating arms.

Verb

1
To cause to burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas. transitive
"Qatar joined the World Bank's Global Gas Flaring Reduction programme in early 2008, indicating its commitment to reducing the process of flaring the gas found with oil deposits."
2
become flared and widen, usually at one end wordnet
3
To cause inflammation; to inflame. transitive
"Trying to draw a breath flared the pressure on his chest into searing agony."
4
erupt or intensify suddenly wordnet
5
To open outward in shape. ambitransitive
"The cat flared its nostrils while sniffing at the air. (transitive)"

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6
burn brightly wordnet
7
To (operate an aircraft to) transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing. ambitransitive
"After a brief refueling stop in Fairbanks, Billy continued on to the cabin. As he flared the Huey [a helicopter] to land, he could see Moses running out of the cabin to greet him"
8
shine with a sudden light wordnet
9
To blaze brightly. intransitive
"The blast furnace flared in the night."
10
To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light. intransitive
"The candle flared in a sudden draught."
11
To shine out with gaudy colours; to be offensively bright or showy. figuratively, intransitive
"[B]y a robe of white, the which ſhe weares, / With ribones pendant flaring bout her head, / I ſhalbe ſure to know her, […]"
12
To suddenly happen or intensify. figuratively, intransitive
"The genius of the poet [John Keats] flares up, dies out, and flares again, as if there were a dearth of fuel to feed it; and by this fault, more than any other, he is removed out of the class of great poets, and occupies but the second rank."
13
To suddenly erupt in anger. figuratively, intransitive
"[H]e flared up very much when I told him I could not give him the schedule."
14
To be exposed to too much light. intransitive, obsolete
"[…] I [Satan] cannot ſtay / Flaring in ſun-ſhine all the day: / For, entre nous, we helliſh ſprites, / Love more the freſco of the nights; […]"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Origin unknown, first recorded in the mid 16th century, probably related to Latin flagrō (“I burn”). Norwegian flara (“to blaze; to flaunt in gaudy attire”) has a similar meaning, but the English word predates it. Possibly related to Middle High German vlederen (“to flutter”), represented by modern German flattern. The noun is derived from the verb.

Etymology 2

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