Word.ws English Dictionary

flare

UK/flɛə̯/US/flɛɚ̯/

flare noun: a sudden bright light. Also the ellipsis of lens flare.

Noun

flare (plural flares)

  1. A sudden bright light.
  2. A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
    • solar flare
    • I was looking in the direction of the lightship off and on from the time we first sighted her. I could not be mistaken in such a matter as a flare-up light. By a flare-up light I mean a large bright light waved in the air, something like a torch dipped in resin and waved about. I am prepared to say...1876 January 28, “Japanese Consulate General, Shanghai. Before E. Shinagawa, Esq., Consul-General. Jan. 22, 1876. Capt. Roper v. Mitsu Bishi Mail S.S. Co.”, in The Japan Mail. A Fortnightly Summary...
    1. A type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light without an explosion, used to attract attention in an emergency, to illuminate an area, or as a decoy.
      • Flares were used to steer the traffic away from the accident.
      • The flares attracted the heat-seeking missiles.
    2. (oil industry) A flame produced by a burn-off of waste gas (flare gas) from a flare tower (or flare stack), typically at an oil refinery.
      • Flare stacks are used in gas plants, petroleum refineries, and petrochemical plants to combust surplus hydrocarbons to produce combustion products that are neither toxic nor combustible. Flares frequently incorporate a liquid-gas separator at the base of the stack and steam assisted burner nozzles...2013, David Brennan, “Identification of Waste in Utility Systems”, in Sustainable Process Engineering: Concepts, Strategies, Evaluation, and Implementation, Singapore: Pan Stanford Publishing, →ISBN...
  3. (figuratively) A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up.
    • "A strange flare of maternal pride," he remarked in his usual detached fashion as he rejoined Parkinson.1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC
    • Antiinflammatory corticosteroid creams and ointments are prescribed for inflamed or lichenified areas. These creams are more effective when applied to damp skin. The lowest potency that controls signs should be used, and topical steroids are usually reserved for treatment of episodic flares.2013, Susan Rowen James, Kristine Ann Nelson, Jean Weiler Ashwill, “The Child with Major Alterations in Tissue Integrity”, in Nursing Care of Children: Principle & Practice, 4th edition, St. Louis...
  4. A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.
    • During assembly of a flare tube fitting, a flare nut is used to secure the flared tubing’s tapered end to the also tapered fitting, producing a pressure-resistant, leak-tight seal.
    • That's a genuine early 70's flare on those pants.
    1. The increase in width of most ship hulls with increasing height above the waterline.
  5. (in plural) Bell-bottom trousers.
    • In the early 1970's, a giddy epoch in men's fashion, when denim flares and platform oxfords were the outer edge of style, Giorgio Armani made a suit that stretched. Imbued with spandex, the elastic fiber that gives a fabric extra bounce, the suit was one of the first in a long line of innovations...1991 September 15, Ruth La Ferla, “Next weave”, in The New York Times Magazine, archived from the original on 20 Aug 2018
    • As a teenager I hitch-hiked around free rock concerts, wearing flowered shirts and denim flares – jeans that were worn so much, in such rough conditions, and with so little attention to washing and care that after a while they became naturally abraded and frayed in just the manner that is simulated...2012, Daniel Miller, “Why Denim?”, in Consumption and Its Consequences, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire; Malden, Mass.: Polity Press, →ISBN, page 94
  6. The transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
    • The captain executed the flare perfectly, and we lightly touched down.
    • In normal operations, the rate of descent (or sink rate) will be approximately constant as the airplane approaches the runway. The objective of the flare is to reduce the vertical speed to an acceptably low value at the time when contact is made with the ground. […] Typically, the airplane will...2018, Trevor M. Young, “Approach and Landing”, in Performance of the Jet Transport Airplane: Analysis Methods, Flight Operations, and Regulations, Hoboken, N.J.; Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley &...
    Synonyms:
    flareout
  7. A low fly ball that is hit in the region between the infielders and the outfielders.
    • Jones hits a little flare to left that falls for a single.
    • An observant base runner checks the outfield defense and easily goes from first to third when the batter hits a flare to right field. A base runner who does not observe the depth of the outfield must turn to watch the ball, see it drop, and then run. He probably doesn't make it to third base.2008, Mark Gola, “Character”, in Baseball’s Sixth Tool: Playing the Mental Game to Get the Competitive Edge, New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, →ISBN, page 7
  8. A route run by the running back, releasing toward the sideline and then slightly arcing upfield looking for a short pass.
  9. An inflammation such as of tendons (tendonitis) or joints (osteoarthritis).
    Synonyms:
    flare-up
  10. A breakdance move of someone helicoptering his torso on alternating arms.

Verb

flare (third-person singular simple present flares, present participle flaring, simple past and past participle flared)

  1. (transitive) To cause to burn; in particular, to burn off excess gas.
    • Qatar joined the World Bank's Global Gas Flaring Reduction programme in early 2008, indicating its commitment to reducing the process of flaring the gas found with oil deposits.2008, “Going Green: The Country is Keen to Increase Its Environmental Credentials”, in The Report: Qatar 2008, [s.l.]: Oxford Business Group, →ISBN, marginal note, page 247
    • One time I was working with the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) on fueling their fleet, and I was surprised to see them flaring the methane at their wastewater facility.2013 April, Blair L. Pollock, “Doing New Things”, in Lyle Estill, editor, Small Stories Big Changes: Agents of Change on the Frontlines of Sustainability, Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society...
  2. (transitive) To cause inflammation; to inflame.
    • Trying to draw a breath flared the pressure on his chest into searing agony.2012, John Fisk, “October Fifth; Saturday”, in Monk’s Hood, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, book 2 (Comes the Demon), page 229
    • Adequate rest is incorporated into upper extremity training program so as not to flare the joint.2015, Theresa A. Chiaia, Miho J. Tanaka, Christopher S. Ahmad, “[Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries and Sternoclavicular Joint Injuries] Nonoperative Rehabilitation of Clavicular Fractures”, in Bruce...
  3. (ambitransitive) To open outward in shape.
    • The cat flared its nostrils while sniffing at the air. (transitive)
    • The cat’s nostrils flared when it sniffed at the air. (intransitive)
  4. (ambitransitive) To (operate an aircraft to) transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
    • After a brief refueling stop in Fairbanks, Billy continued on to the cabin. As he flared the Huey [a helicopter] to land, he could see Moses running out of the cabin to greet him2012, Wil Johnson, chapter 6, in Revenge and Restoration, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 35
    • I had one instructor that called and said he had tried everything to solo his student but the guy just couldn't get the picture of what was expected. One time around the airport the student would flare the airplane twenty feet in the air, and the next time around he would fly the nose into the...2013 May 31, Steve Grizzle, “As Flight Instructor”, in The 3 ‘P’ Man: Memoirs of a Perfect Life Adventure: A Preacher, a Pilot, and a Police Officer All in One Person, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse...
  5. (intransitive) To blaze brightly.
    • The blast furnace flared in the night.
    • Thou rear'st thy stately neck, / And, while I list, thou flarest in men's eyes / A gorgeous queen; […]1802, Joanna Baillie, “Ethwald: A Tragedy, in Five Acts. Part Second.”, in A Series of Plays: In which It is Attempted to Delineate the Stronger Passions of the Mind. […], volume II, London: […]...
  6. (intransitive) To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.
    • The candle flared in a sudden draught.
    • The substance to which all common flames owe their brightness is finely-divided charcoal. […] Of this formation of charcoal the proof is obvious whenever a candle flares and smokes; for the unburnt charcoal soon collects in the upper part of the flame, and if not removed is apt to fall into the cup...1850 March 9, “The Candle”, in The Working Man’s Friend, and Family Instructor, volume I, number 10, London: Printed and published by John Cassell, […], →OCLC, page 302, column 2
  7. (figuratively, intransitive) To shine out with gaudy colours; to be offensively bright or showy.
    • [B]y a robe of white, the which ſhe weares, / With ribones pendant flaring bout her head, / I ſhalbe ſure to know her, […]c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, […] [T]he Merrie Wiues of Windsor. […] (First Quarto), London: […] T[homas] C[reede] for Arthur Ihonson, […], published 1602, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]
    • Wealth's golden key displayeth she, / And robes of state she weareth, / And the jewell'd star of high degree, / Fix'd at her bosom flareth.1850, N. J. H., “To a Sister on Attaining the Age of Twenty-one”, in F[rancis] W[illiam] Newman, editor, A Collection of Poetry for the Practice of Elocution. […], London: Taylor, Walton, and...
  8. (figuratively, intransitive) To suddenly happen or intensify.
    • The genius of the poet [John Keats] flares up, dies out, and flares again, as if there were a dearth of fuel to feed it; and by this fault, more than any other, he is removed out of the class of great poets, and occupies but the second rank.1851 October, J[ames] D[avenport] W[helpley], “The ‘Hyperion’ of John Keats”, in The American Whig Review, volume XIII, number LXXXII (volume VIII, number IV (New Series)), New York, N.Y.: Published...
    Synonyms:
    flare up
  9. (figuratively, intransitive) To suddenly erupt in anger.
    • [H]e flared up very much when I told him I could not give him the schedule.1868, “[Sale of Iron-clads.] Testimony. Appendix C.”, in Reports of Committees of the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress, 1867–’68 (Report; no. 64), volume 2...
    • One of the most heated periods occurred in 1965 when the Forest Service decided forest lands could no longer tolerate unrestricted grazing by livestock, especially hogs. […] Notice went out to local residents, and the following year, 1966, Forest Service personnel began trapping hogs grazing in...1981, Sharon M. W. Bass, “Years of Challenge”, in For the Trees: An Illustrated History of the Ozark–St. Francis National Forests, 1908–1978, [Atlanta, Ga.?]: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest...
    Synonyms:
    flare up
  10. (intransitive, obsolete) To be exposed to too much light.
    • […] I [Satan] cannot ſtay / Flaring in ſun-ſhine all the day: / For, entre nous, we helliſh ſprites, / Love more the freſco of the nights; […]a. 1722 (date written), Matthew Prior, “Hans Carvel”, in The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior […], volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan, […], published 1779, →OCLC, page 124

Also used as

flare is also the ellipsis of lens flare.

flare meaning in Tamil, Nepali and Tagalog

flare in Tamil

ஃப்ளேர்

flare in Nepali

फ्लेर, फ्लेयर

flare in Tagalog

source of brightly burning light or intense heat
ansisilaw

Examples of flare in a sentence

  • The building flared from the third through the seventh floors to occupy the airspace over the entrance plaza. (intransitive)
  • The sides of a bowl flare. (intransitive)
  • I could not be mistaken in such a matter as a flare-up light.1876 January 28, “Japanese Consulate General, Shanghai. Before E. Shinagawa, Esq., Consul-General. Jan. 22, 1876. Capt. Roper v. Mitsu...
  • [T]he forward deck near the house was all saturated with spilt oil and there was a quantity of oakum lying about, some of which possibly had been used for flares or distress signals.1913 December 13, “The Inquest Resumed. [Captain Froggatt’s Report.]”, in The North-China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette: The...
  • In the little fair created by the costers' barrows the evening only seemed beginning; and the naphtha flares made one's eyes ache, the men's voices grated harshly, and the girls' faces saddened one.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, pages...
  • We made a movie picture by the use of flares, the brilliant light startling the blacks, but their surprise quickly gave way to enthusiasm,—just another of the white bwana's magic powers.1926, Edwin S. George, “African Nights”, in Cairo to Cape: Four Afoot through Africa, New York, N.Y.: The Knickerbocker Press, →OCLC, page...

All 40 example sentences with flare

Synonyms of flare

Antonyms

All synonyms and antonyms of flare

Forms of flare

Noun
pluralflares
Verb
third-person singular presentflares
present participleflaring
past participleflared
pastflared

Past tense of flare: flared

Plural of flare: flares

Origin of flare

Origin uncertain, first recorded in the mid 16th century, probably related to Latin flagrō (“to burn”). Norwegian flara (“to blaze; to flaunt in gaudy attire”) has a similar meaning, but the English word predates it. Possibly related to Middle High German vlederen (“to flutter”), represented by modern German flattern. The noun is derived from the verb.

Words formed from flare

Phrases with flare

Words that rhyme with flare

48 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about flare

What does flare mean?
Flare means a sudden bright light.
What is flare in Tamil?
Flare in Tamil is ஃப்ளேர். See Flare meaning in Tamil.
How do you use flare in a sentence?
The building flared from the third through the seventh floors to occupy the airspace over the entrance plaza. (intransitive)
What part of speech is flare?
Flare can be a noun or a verb.
How do you pronounce flare?
Flare is pronounced /flɛə̯/ (UK).
What is the plural of flare?
The plural of flare is flares.

Words near flare in the dictionary

  1. flaptrack
  2. flaptracks
  3. flapwort
  4. flarability
  5. flarable
  6. flare
  7. flare angel
  8. flare angels
  9. flare gun
  10. flare guns
  11. flare nut

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: flare (page history and authors); flare (Tamil, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license); flare (Nepali, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: en-au-flare.ogg.

Cite this entry: “flare.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/flare. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.