Definition of "flourish"

flourish

/ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/

verb
third-person singular simple present flourishes, present participle flourishing, simple past and past participle flourished
1. (intransitive) To thrive or grow well.
  Quotations
  'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
  1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients‎, page 1
2. (intransitive) To prosper or fare well.
  Quotations
  Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness.
  1795, Robert Nelson, A Companion for the Festivals and Fasts of the Church of England
  One hall called Civil Law Hall or School, flouriſhed about this time (though in its buildings decayed) by the care of the learned and judicious Dr. Will. Warham Principal or Moderator thereof […]
  1792, Anthony à Wood, The History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford: In Two Books‎, volume 1, Oxford: John Gutch, page 661
3. (intransitive) To be in a period of greatest influence.
4. (transitive) To develop; to make thrive; to expand.
  Quotations
  But all that I ſhall ſay in this vvhole Argument, vvill be but like Bottomes of Thred, cloſe vvound vp, vvhich vvith a good Needle (perhaps) may be flouriſhed into large VVorkes.
  a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a VVarre vvith Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany VVorks of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, page 4
5. (transitive) To make bold, sweeping movements with.
6. (intransitive) To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion.
  Quotations
  Impetuous spread the stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head.
  1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin, London: […] A. Dodd
7. (intransitive) To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions.
  Quotations
  They dilate […] and flourish long upon little incidents.
  1725, Isaac Watts, Logick: Or, The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry after Truth, […], 2nd edition, London: […] John Clark and Richard Hett, […], Emanuel Matthews, […], and Richard Ford, […], published 1726
8. (intransitive) To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures.
9. (transitive) To adorn with beautiful figures or rhetoric; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish.
  Quotations
  With shadowy verdure flourish'd high,A sudden youth the groves enjoy.
  1716, Elijah Fenton, an ode to John Gower
  To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin, Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit.
  c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i]
10. (intransitive) To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude.
  Quotations
  Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?
  c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene ii]
11. (intransitive, obsolete) To boast; to vaunt; to brag.
noun
plural flourishes
1. A dramatic gesture such as the waving of a flag.
  Quotations
  This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.
  1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 1, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, page 1
  Gabriel Jesus' solo goal - as a stunned United pushed for an equaliser - was a flourish that eased any late nerves.
  2023 September 3, Phil McNulty, “Declan Rice: The game-changing midfielder Arsenal need for title challenge”, in BBC Sport‎
2. An ornamentation.
  Quotations
  [B]revity is the soul of wit,And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes[.]
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii]
3. (music) A ceremonious passage such as a fanfare.
  Quotations
  [I]f he is a soldier in command, successes will be amplified, and the results of his campaigns announced with a flourish of trumpets.
  1872, Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Percival Frost, The Annals of Tacitus with a Commentary by the Rev. Percival Frost, M.A‎, London: Whittaker & Co.; George Bell, Life of Tacitus
4. (architecture) A decorative embellishment on a building.

Definition of "flourish"

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