# flare

Pronunciation: say "FLAIR" US /flɛɚ̯/, UK /flɛə̯/, AUS /fleː/

## Noun

1. A pyrotechnic device that gives off a brilliant light without exploding, used to signal in an emergency, to light up an area, or as a decoy.
   - Simple: A device that burns very brightly without exploding, used to call for help, light up an area, or fool an enemy.
   - _The stranded hikers lit a red flare as soon as they heard the helicopter._
   - _Soldiers sent flares up into the night sky to light the field ahead of them._
2. A sudden burst of bright light.
   - Simple: A bright light that appears suddenly.
   - _A sudden flare from the fireplace lit up their faces for a moment._
   - _Each flare of the distant lightning showed the outline of the hills._
7. A sudden eruption or outbreak of something.
   - Simple: A time when something suddenly breaks out.
   - _Moisturizing every day can help prevent a flare of eczema._
   - _After months of calm, a flare of violence along the border forced villagers to flee._
8. An inflammation, for example of the tendons in tendonitis or of the joints in osteoarthritis.
   - Simple: Pain and swelling in a part of the body, such as a joint.
   - _An osteoarthritis flare in her hip forced her to cancel the hiking trip._
   - _Runners who ignore a tendon flare often end up with a longer injury._
10. A widening at some point along an object that is otherwise of roughly even width.
   - Simple: A part where something that is mostly the same width gets wider.
   - _The plumber shaped a flare on the end of the copper tubing so it would seal tightly against the fitting._
   - _The skirt is fitted at the hip, with a gentle flare below the knee._
11. Pants whose legs widen from the knee down into a broad, bell-shaped bottom.
   - Simple: Pants that get much wider at the bottom of each leg.
   - _He showed up to the reunion in corduroy flares and a wide-collared shirt._
   - _Flares went out of fashion for years and then came back on the runways._
12. Short for lens flare. — Ellipsis of lens flare.
   - Simple: Short for lens flare. Used for bright spots or streaks in a photo caused by strong light.
   - _A hood on the lens cuts down flare when you shoot toward the sun._
   - _A streetlight just outside the frame left a ghostly flare across the image._
13. Something that burns with a bright light or gives off intense heat.
   - Simple: Something that burns with a very bright light or gives off strong heat.
   - _Smoky oil flares lit the stalls of the night market._
   - _A tar-soaked flare burned on a pole at the mouth of the mine._
14. A flame of burning waste gas at the top of a flare stack, typically at an oil refinery.
   - Simple: A flame at the top of a tall pipe where unwanted gas is burned, often at an oil plant.
   - _At night the refinery's flare lit up the low clouds over the bay._
   - _Residents complained that the plant's flares burned around the clock during the shutdown._
17. The change from descending flight to level flight that an aircraft makes just before touching down.
   - Simple: The moment just before landing when a plane stops going down and flies level.
   - _A gust caught the plane during the flare, and it touched down hard._
   - _Student pilots often begin the flare too high above the runway._
19. A low fly ball hit into the area between the infielders and the outfielders.
   - Simple: In baseball, a low hit through the air that falls between the players near the bases and those farther back.
   - _The leadoff hitter dropped a flare into shallow center to start the rally._
   - _Neither the second baseman nor the right fielder could reach the flare, and it fell for a hit._
20. A pass route in which the running back heads toward the sideline and then curves slightly upfield, looking for a short pass.
   - Simple: In football, a path where the running back runs toward the sideline, then curves forward for a short pass.
   - _The running back slipped out on a flare to the right, and the quarterback dumped it off to him for eight yards._
   - _Against the blitz, the coach called a flare to get the ball to his back in open space._
21. The increasing width of a ship's hull with height above the waterline, a feature of most hulls.
   - Simple: The way the sides of most ships get wider higher up from the water.
   - _The bow's generous flare throws spray away from the deck in heavy seas._
   - _The designer gave the hull less flare amidships than at the bow._
22. A breakdancing move in which the dancer whirls the body around in circles while supported on one arm and then the other.
   - Simple: A breakdance move where you spin your body around while holding yourself up on one arm, then the other.
   - _He finished his set with three clean flares and a freeze._
   - _It took her a year of practice to land a flare._

## Verb

3. To break out suddenly, or to grow suddenly more intense.
   - Simple: To start suddenly or quickly get stronger.
   - _Tensions between the two families flare up every time the old land dispute comes back._
   - _Violence flared across the city after the verdict was announced._
4. To widen or open outward in shape, or to make something do so.
   - Simple: To spread wider at one end, or to make something spread out like that.
   - _Potters flare the rim of a bowl by pressing outward as the wheel turns._
   - _The tower flares outward near the top, giving it the shape of a trumpet._
5. To shine out with a sudden, unsteady light, or to give off a dazzling, painfully bright light.
   - Simple: To give off a sudden, unsteady light, or a light so bright it hurts the eyes.
   - _The oil lamp flared and smoked whenever the wind found the cracks in the cabin wall._
   - _Headlights flare in the rearview mirror, and for a moment she can't see the road._
6. To burst out suddenly in anger.
   - Simple: To get angry all of a sudden.
   - _She tends to flare up whenever anyone questions her judgment._
   - _The coach flared up when the referee waved off the goal._
9. To burn or shine with a bright, strong blaze.
   - Simple: To burn with big, bright flames.
   - _Beacon fires flare on the hilltops every year during the festival._
   - _Torches flared along the castle walls as the guests arrived._
15. To make something burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas.
   - Simple: To burn something, especially extra gas that is not needed.
   - _Many oil fields still flare the natural gas that comes up with the crude._
   - _The county landfill flares its methane instead of letting it escape into the air._
16. To cause inflammation in a part of the body, such as a joint.
   - Simple: To make part of your body sore and swollen.
   - _Long runs on pavement can flare a sore knee for days afterward._
   - _Lifting heavy boxes flared his old back injury, and he spent the weekend on the couch._
18. To level off from a descent just before landing, or to make an aircraft do so.
   - Simple: To stop going down and fly level just before landing, or to make a plane do so.
   - _She flared the jet a few feet above the runway and let it settle onto its wheels._
   - _Watch your airspeed as you flare, or the plane will drop onto the runway._
23. To be glaringly colorful, making an unpleasantly bright or showy display.
   - Simple: To stand out with bright colors in a way that is too loud and showy.
   - _His purple and gold suit flared among the gray coats of the bankers._
   - _Garish billboards flare along the highway into town._

## Verb

24. To be exposed to an excess of light, such as strong sunshine. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To be out in too much light, like strong sun.

## Origin

Of unknown origin, first recorded in the mid 16th century and probably related to Latin flagrō ("I burn"). Norwegian flara ("to blaze; to flaunt in gaudy attire") is similar in meaning but later than the English word, and a link to Middle High German vlederen ("to flutter"), modern German flattern, is possible; the noun comes from the verb.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/flare (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).