Definition of 'burgeon'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense burgeons
, present participle burgeoning
, past tense , past participle burgeoned
verb
If something burgeons, it grows or develops rapidly.
[literary]
Plants burgeon from every available space.
My confidence began to burgeon later in life.
...Japan's burgeoning satellite-TV industry.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
verb
noun
3.
a bud of a plant
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'burgeon'
C13: from Old French burjon, perhaps ultimately from Late Latin burra shaggy cloth; from the downiness of certain buds verb intransitive
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'burgeon'
ME burjounen < OFr burjoner < burjon, a bud < VL *burrio, a bud < LL burra, wool, shaggy garmentExample sentences containing 'burgeon'
Under the pale blue sky the trees seemed visibly to burgeon: yesterday's bare branches swelled into bud and would be in leaf by tomorrow.
LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTRE (2001)What man in his right mind, knowing he was not long for the world, would wish it to burgeon and brighten in his absence?
SACRAMENT (2001)Trends of 'burgeon'
View usage over:
Translations for 'burgeon'
British English: burgeon VERB
If something burgeons, it grows or develops rapidly.Plants burgeon from every available space.
If something burgeons, it grows or develops rapidly.Plants burgeon from every available space.
Source
Definition of burgeon from the
Collins English Dictionary
Protect yourself from online fraud
What to look out for to stay one step ahead of scammers
Read more
We take a look at the etymology behind the word 'election' in the run-up to the UK General Election in June
Language expert Ian Brookes looks at the word 'election' and its origins.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Comments