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flare (v.)

1540s, "spread out" (hair), of unknown origin, perhaps from Scandinavian or from Dutch vlederen. Meaning "shine out with a sudden light" is from 1630s. The notion of "spreading out in display" is behind the notion of "spreading gradually outward" (1640s). Related: Flared; flaring.

flare (n.)

"a giving off of a bright, unsteady light," 1814, from flare (v.). This led to the sense of "signal fire" (1883). The astronomy sense is from 1937. Meaning "a gradual widening or spreading" is from 1910; hence flares "flared trousers" (1964).

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Definitions of flare from WordNet
1
flare (n.)
a shape that spreads outward;
the skirt had a wide flare
Synonyms: flair
flare (n.)
a sudden burst of flame;
flare (n.)
a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate;
Synonyms: flash
flare (n.)
reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation;
flare (n.)
a sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms;
infection can cause a lupus flare
a colitis flare
flare (n.)
a sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference;
Synonyms: solar flare
flare (n.)
am unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection);
flare (n.)
a sudden outburst of emotion;
she felt a flare of delight
she could not control her flare of rage
flare (n.)
a device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification;
flare (n.)
a short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines;
he threw a flare to the fullback who was tackled for a loss
Synonyms: flare pass
flare (n.)
(baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield;
2
flare (v.)
burn brightly;
Every star seemed to flare with new intensity
Synonyms: flame up / blaze up / burn up
flare (v.)
become flared and widen, usually at one end;
The bellbottom pants flare out
Synonyms: flare out
flare (v.)
shine with a sudden light;
The night sky flared with the massive bombardment
Synonyms: flame
flare (v.)
erupt or intensify suddenly;
Tempers flared at the meeting
Synonyms: erupt / irrupt / flare up / break open / burst out
From wordnet.princeton.edu