noun
flare
fleh-uh
noun
1
A bright light or flame used as a signal or for illumination, often a handheld or fired device.
"The sailors fired a flare to signal for rescue."
verb
1
To burn brightly and suddenly, or to suddenly intensify.
"Tensions flared between the two neighbors."
"The match flared briefly before going out."
2
To widen gradually outward, especially describing trousers or a shape.
"The skirt flares out slightly at the bottom."
How to Use Flare
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden bright burst of light or fire (or the device that produces it); also used for something that suddenly widens or that suddenly intensifies, like anger or a health condition.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with flair (a natural talent or stylish quality) — the two are unrelated words that happen to sound alike.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flare up
signal flare
flared trousers
Word Forms
flared past tense, flares singular
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The sailors fired a _____ to signal for rescue.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, first recorded in the mid-1500s; possibly related to Latin flagrare, "to burn."