flourish
verb
[ ˈflʌrɪʃ ]
• (of a living organism) grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly congenial environment.
• "wild plants flourish on the banks of the lake"
Similar:
grow,
thrive,
prosper,
grow/do well,
develop,
burgeon,
increase,
multiply,
proliferate,
spring up,
shoot up,
bloom,
blossom,
bear fruit,
burst forth,
run riot,
put on a spurt,
boom,
mushroom,
• wave (something) about to attract attention.
• "‘Happy New Year!’ he yelled, flourishing a bottle of whisky"
Similar:
brandish,
wave,
shake,
wield,
raise,
hold aloft,
swing,
twirl,
wag,
swish,
flap,
display,
exhibit,
flaunt,
vaunt,
parade,
show off,
flourish
noun
• a bold or extravagant gesture or action, made especially to attract attention.
• "with a flourish, she ushered them inside"
• an impressive and successful act or period.
• "United produced a late second-half flourish"
• a fanfare played by brass instruments.
• "a flourish of trumpets"
Origin:
Middle English: from Old French floriss-, lengthened stem of florir, based on Latin florere, from flos, flor- ‘a flower’. The noun senses ‘ornamental curve’ and ‘florid expression’ come from an obsolete sense of the verb, ‘adorn’ (originally with flowers).
