blossom
    n 1: reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one
         having showy or colorful parts [syn: flower, bloom,
         blossom]
    2: the period of greatest prosperity or productivity [syn:
       flower, prime, peak, heyday, bloom, blossom,
       efflorescence, flush]
    v 1: produce or yield flowers; "The cherry tree bloomed" [syn:
         bloom, blossom, flower]
    2: develop or come to a promising stage; "Youth blossomed into
       maturity" [syn: blossom, blossom out, blossom forth,
       unfold]

Blossom \Blos"som\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blossomed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Blossoming.] [AS. bl?stmian. See Blossom, n.]
   1. To put forth blossoms or flowers; to bloom; to blow; to
      flower.
      [1913 Webster]

            The moving whisper of huge trees that branched
            And blossomed.                        --Tennyson.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To flourish and prosper; to develop into a superior type.
      [1913 Webster]

            Israel shall blossom and bud, and full the face of
            the world with fruit.                 --Isa. xxvii.
                                                  6.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. to appear or grow as if by blossoming; to spread out
      rapidly.
      [PJC]

Blossom \Blos"som\ (bl[o^]s"s[u^]m), n. [OE. blosme, blostme,
   AS. bl[=o]sma, bl[=o]stma, blossom; akin to D. bloesem, L.
   fios, and E. flower; from the root of E. blow to blossom. See
   Blow to blossom, and cf. Bloom a blossom.]
   1. The flower of a plant, or the essential organs of
      reproduction, with their appendages; florescence; bloom;
      the flowers of a plant, collectively; as, the blossoms and
      fruit of a tree; an apple tree in blossom.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The term has been applied by some botanists, and is
         also applied in common usage, to the corolla. It is
         more commonly used than flower or bloom, when we have
         reference to the fruit which is to succeed. Thus we use
         flowers when we speak of plants cultivated for
         ornament, and bloom in a more general sense, as of
         flowers in general, or in reference to the beauty of
         flowers.
         [1913 Webster]

               Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day.
                                                  --Longfellow.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A blooming period or stage of development; something
      lovely that gives rich promise.
      [1913 Webster]

            In the blossom of my youth.           --Massinger.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The color of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with
      sorrel and bay hairs; -- otherwise called peach color.
      [1913 Webster]

   In blossom, having the blossoms open; in bloom.
      [1913 Webster]

Blossom, TX -- U.S. city in Texas
   Population (2000):    1439
   Housing Units (2000): 606
   Land area (2000):     2.510310 sq. miles (6.501674 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.042343 sq. miles (0.109667 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    2.552653 sq. miles (6.611341 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            08812
   Located within:       Texas (TX), FIPS 48
   Location:             33.661395 N, 95.383675 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     75416
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Blossom, TX
    Blossom