effloresce Hear it!

effloresce definition

ef·flo·resce (ef′lə res)

intransitive verb effloresced -·resced′, efflorescing -·resc′·ing

  1. to blossom out; flower; bloom
  2. Chem.
    1. to change from a crystalline to a powdery state through loss of the water of crystallization when exposed to air
    2. to develop a powdery crust as a result of evaporation or chemical change

Etymology: L efflorescere, to blossom, flourish < ex-, out + florescere, to begin to blossom < florere, to blossom < flos (gen. floris), a flower: see bloom

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

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.