Library / English Dictionary

BLUSH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)

Synonyms:

blush; flush

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("blush" is a kind of...):

inborn reflex; innate reflex; instinctive reflex; physiological reaction; reflex; reflex action; reflex response; unconditioned reflex (an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus)

Derivation:

blush (turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health

Synonyms:

bloom; blush; flush; rosiness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("blush" is a kind of...):

good health; healthiness (the state of being vigorous and free from bodily or mental disease)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame

Example:

The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by

Synonyms:

blush; crimson; flush; redden

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "blush" is one way to...):

color; colour; discolor; discolour (change color, often in an undesired manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

blush (sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty))

blusher (makeup consisting of a pink or red powder applied to the cheeks)

blusher (yellowish edible agaric that usually turns red when touched)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become rosy or reddish

Example:

her cheeks blushed in the cold winter air

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "blush" is one way to...):

redden (turn red or redder)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

Again Ruth nodded, and again a blush mantled her face.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Elinor blushed for the insincerity of Edward's future wife, and replied, This compliment would effectually frighten me from giving any opinion on the subject had I formed one.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“Bless the lad, if he doth not blush like any girl, and yet preach like the whole College of Cardinals,” cried the archer.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Here are the folk coming, Anson,” said my mother, blushing.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The young lady blushed and laughed.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In the body, involuntary actions (such as blushing) occur automatically, and cannot be controlled by choice.

(Involuntary, NCI Dictionary)

It is in the form of a letter, and runs in this way: ‘My dear, dear son,—Now that approaching disgrace begins to darken the closing years of my life, I can write with all truth and honesty that it is not the terror of the law, it is not the loss of my position in the county, nor is it my fall in the eyes of all who have known me, which cuts me to the heart; but it is the thought that you should come to blush for me—you who love me and who have seldom, I hope, had reason to do other than respect me.’

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It is very true, however; you shall read James's letter yourself. Stay—There is one part—” recollecting with a blush the last line.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Anne heard her, and made no violent exclamations; she only smiled, blushed, and gently shook her head.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)