Definition of EFFLORESCE

effloresce

Meanings

Verb

  • come into or as if into flower
    • "These manifestations effloresced in the past"
  • assume crystalline form; become crystallized
  • become encrusted with crystals due to evaporation
  • To burst into bloom; to flower.
  • Of something hidden: to come forth, to emerge; also, to reach full glory or power.
  • Senses relating to chemistry.
  • Of a substance: to change from being crystalline to powdery by losing water of crystallization.
  • Senses relating to chemistry.
  • Of a salt: to seep through some material (bricks, concrete, earth, rock, etc.) in a dissolved state, and then crystallize on a surface in a powdery form.
  • Senses relating to chemistry.
  • Of the surface of a material: to become covered with a powdery salt (as described in sense 3.2).

Origin / Etymology

From Latin efflōrēscere, present active infinitive of efflōrēscō (“to bloom, blossom; to flourish”) + -ere (suffix forming infinitives). Efflōrēscō is derived from ef- (variant of ex- (prefix meaning ‘away; out’)) + flōrēscō (“to blossom, flower; to begin to flourish or prosper”) (from flōreō (“to bloom, blossom, flower; to flourish, prosper”) (from flōs (“blossom, flower”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (“bloom, flower”)) + -scō (suffix forming verbs having the sense of beginning something)).

Synonyms

burst forth, crystalise, crystalize, crystallize

Scrabble Score: 18

effloresce is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
effloresce is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
effloresce is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

effloresce is a valid Words With Friends word