blaze Hear it!

blaze1 definition

blaze (blāz)

noun

  1. a brilliant mass or burst of flame; strongly burning fire
  2. any very bright, often hot, light or glare the blaze of searchlights
  3. a sudden, spectacular occurrence; showy outburst a blaze of oratory
  4. a brightness; vivid display; flash
  5. hell: a euphemism, esp. in the phrase go to blazes!

Etymology: ME blase < OE blæse, blase, a torch, flame < IE *bhles-, shine < base *bhel-: see black

intransitive verb blazed, blazing blaz′·ing

  1. to burn rapidly or brightly; flame
  2. to give off a strong, vivid light; shine very brightly; glare
  3. to be deeply stirred or excited, as with anger

transitive verb

Rare to cause to blaze
blaze Idioms

blaze away

  1. to fire a gun rapidly a number of times
  2. to speak heatedly
blaze2 definition

blaze (blāz)

noun

  1. a light-colored spot on an animal's face
  2. ☆ a mark made on a tree, as to mark a trail, by cutting off a piece of bark

Etymology: < ON blesi: for IE base see blaze

transitive verb blazed, blazing blaz′·ing

to mark (a tree or trail) with blazes
blaze Idioms

blaze a way

☆
to pioneer, set a direction or course, etc. she blazed a new path in modern dance
blaze3 definition

blaze (blāz)

transitive verb blazed, blazing blaz′·ing

to make known publicly; spread the news of; proclaim

Etymology: ME blasen, to blow < OE or ON form akin to Ger < IE *bhlē- < base *bhel-, to swell, blow up > ball; infl. by blazon

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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