Flare Widens as Well as Burns
A flare is a sudden burst of light or flame. It also means a widening shape, which is why trousers can flare.
A flare is a sudden burst of flame or light, and also a shape that widens outward. The two senses are connected by movement: a flame flares by spreading out suddenly, and a trouser leg flares by spreading in the same way. Once you see a flare as a spreading rather than a burning, the two uses become one word again. A *solar flare* is a burst of radiation from the sun that can disrupt radio and satellites.
- A burst of light. *A distress flare.*
- To burn brightly. *The fire flared up.*
- A widening shape. *Flared trousers.*
- To worsen suddenly. *The condition flared up.*
- Flair — the confused word. *A flair for design.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | flare | A red flare. |
| Plural | flares | Wearing flares. |
| Verb | flare | It flared up. |
| Adjective | flared | Flared jeans. |
| Different word | flair | Real flair. |
- They fired a distress flare.Signal.
- Tempers flared during the meeting.Figurative.
- Flared trousers came back in fashion.Shape.
Kinds of flare
- Distress flare — a signal fired at sea or in the mountains
- Solar flare — a burst of radiation from the sun
- Lens flare — stray light scattered inside a camera lens
- Flare-up — a sudden worsening of illness or conflict
- Flares — trousers that widen below the knee
Recorded from the 1500s, of uncertain origin, first meaning to spread out. The sense of burning brightly followed.
Flare or flair?
Flare is light, fire or a widening shape. Flair is natural talent or style.
What is a solar flare?
A sudden release of energy from the sun's surface. Large ones can disrupt radio communication and satellites.