flare
flare — verb
1. If a flame or fire flares, it suddenly becomes brighter and burns with an unstea
If a flame or fire flares, it suddenly becomes brighter and burns with an unsteady light, often for just a few moments before fading or going out.
The campfire flared up when Indra added dry leaves to it.
phrasal pattern: flare up (of fire)
A match flared briefly in the dark room before going out.
The candle flame flared in the cold breeze, then settled again.
When the wind hit the embers, the fire flared and lit up the whole garden.
simple intransitive: fire flares
A gas leak caused the stove to flare suddenly in the kitchen.
- flare up
- fire flares
- flame flares
- match flares
- candle flares
Grammar Patterns
flare
flare up
Usage Note
Often used with 'up' to emphasise the suddenness of the burst of flame. 'Flare up' can also describe a fire that has been dampened or nearly out and reignites briefly.
Common Mistakes
2. When something unpleasant — such as fighting, a medical condition, or a strong e
When something unpleasant — such as fighting, a medical condition, or a strong emotion — flares or flares up, it starts again suddenly or becomes much more serious after a period of being quiet or controlled.
The violence between the two communities flared up again after the court decision.
phrasal pattern: flare up (of conflict)
Yuki's back pain flares every time she sits at the computer for too long.
intransitive: pain flares
Tensions flared at the school board meeting when funding was discussed.
The old argument between the neighbours flared up again over parking.
Her anger flared when she read the unfair review of her work.
subject is emotion: anger / temper flares
- violence flares (up)
- pain flares (up)
- anger flares
- tensions flare
- conflict flares (up)
- temper flares
- disease flares up
Grammar Patterns
flare up
flare
Usage Note
The form 'flare up' is more common than 'flare' alone for this sense. Subjects are usually negative: violence, conflict, tension, anger, pain, disease, or an old problem. Not used for positive situations — a party does not 'flare up'.
Common Mistakes
3. to become gradually broader towards the bottom or at one end — for example, when
to become gradually broader towards the bottom or at one end — for example, when a person's nostrils spread wider in anger, or the lower part of a skirt is cut to be wider than the top.
The horse's nostrils flared when it caught the scent of water.
intransitive: body part flares
Élise bought a skirt that flares out just below the knee.
intransitive: clothing flares
His nostrils flared with anger as he listened to the accusation.
body part flares as emotional signal
The trousers flare at the ankle, making them easy to move in.
Fatima flared her nostrils in frustration at the unfair decision.
transitive use: person flares body part
- nostrils flare
- skirt flares
- trousers flare
- flare out
- flare at the bottom
Grammar Patterns
nostrils flare
trousers / skirt flares
flare one's nostrils
Usage Note
When used transitively, the object is almost always 'nostrils'. The intransitive use is more common and describes either a body part (nostrils) or an item of clothing (skirt, trousers) that widens towards the bottom.
Common Mistakes
flare up
phrasal verbTo suddenly become worse or more intense, especially after a period of calm.
My back injury flared up after I lifted the heavy box.
The argument between the two neighbors flared up again last night.
flare — noun
1. a sudden, brief brightening of a flame or fire, often dying down quickly after a
a sudden, brief brightening of a flame or fire, often dying down quickly after appearing
The campfire gave one last bright flare before it turned to ash.
Élise watched the flare of the match as she lit the candle by the window.
collocation: flare of + flame source
A sudden flare from the gas stove caught Diya's attention while she cooked.
Each bright flare of the fireworks lit up the faces of the crowd below.
Noor saw the flare of the lantern flicker when the wind blew through the tent.
- flare of
- bright flare
- sudden flare
- last flare
Common Mistakes
2. a fiery glow or coloured cloud sent up to warn others or ask for rescue, or a ha
a fiery glow or coloured cloud sent up to warn others or ask for rescue, or a handheld or launched item that creates such a signal
The sailors fired a red flare into the sky to signal for help.
verb collocation: fire a flare
Ramón packed a flare in his emergency kit before the solo hiking trip.
Search teams spotted the orange flare from the stranded climbers on the ridge.
The coast guard launched a bright flare to mark the position of the rescue boat.
Mira kept two signal flares in the lifeboat drawer for maritime emergencies.
compound noun: signal flare
- fire a flare
- red flare
- signal flare
- launch a flare
- set off a flare
- signal rocket
more specific to pyrotechnic projectiles launched from a tube
- distress signal
broader; can be a flare, a radio call, or a flag
Usage Note
Commonly used with verbs like 'fire', 'launch', 'set off', 'shoot'. The device itself is also called a 'flare gun' or 'signal flare'.
Common Mistakes
3. trousers or jeans that become wider from the knee down to the bottom of each leg
trousers or jeans that become wider from the knee down to the bottom of each leg, often called bell-bottoms
Naoko wore a pair of purple flares to the 1970s-themed party.
usually plural: flares
The shop window displayed jeans with a subtle flare at the bottom.
Tuan's old flares came back into fashion after twenty years in a box.
Maeve bought two pairs of flares—one in black and one in blue denim.
- pair of flares
- wear flares
- purple flares
- flares in fashion
- bell-bottoms
common American term for very wide flares that resemble a bell shape
Usage Note
Almost always used in the plural form 'flares' when referring to the trousers themselves.
Common Mistakes
4. the quality or shape of becoming wider towards one end, used especially of cloth
the quality or shape of becoming wider towards one end, used especially of clothing, fabric, or other materials
Stephanie liked the gentle flare of the skirt as it spread when she spun.
collocation: flare of + garment
The tailor adjusted the flare of the trousers by adding extra fabric at the hem.
A slight flare at the cuff gives the sleeve a more relaxed and modern look.
Decorators chose curtains with a soft flare at the bottom for the dining room.
- gentle flare
- soft flare
- flare of the skirt
- flare at the cuff
5. an American football play where the quarterback tosses the ball sideways to a ru
an American football play where the quarterback tosses the ball sideways to a running back heading for the sideline
The quarterback threw a quick flare to the running back on third down.
Ramón caught the flare and gained seven yards before being tackled near the sideline.
verb collocation: catch a flare
Diya watched the receiver turn up the field after catching the short flare pass.
A well-timed flare to the back can pick up quick yardage against a tight defence.
- throw a flare
- catch a flare
- flare pass
- flare route
Usage Note
A specific American football term. The play is called a 'flare route' or 'flare pass', distinct from longer throws like 'deep passes'.
6. a baseball hit softly so that it travels only a little way into the outfield, us
a baseball hit softly so that it travels only a little way into the outfield, usually dropping in front of the deeper fielders
The batter hit a lazy flare to the center fielder for an easy second out.
Elena ran in from left field and caught the soft flare just before it dropped.
verb collocation: catch a flare
A short flare over second base dropped between three fielders for a single.
Dewi hit a flare into shallow right field that landed just inside the foul line.
- hit a flare
- soft flare
- lazy flare
- short flare
7. In gymnastics, a move in which a person supports their body weight on their hand
In gymnastics, a move in which a person supports their body weight on their hands while rotating both legs sideways in a broad circle, keeping the rest of the body off the floor.
Niran practised the flare on the pommel horse every morning before school.
collocation: practise + the flare
The gymnastics coach showed the class how to keep their legs straight during a flare.
verb pattern: showed + how to + infinitive
A clean flare requires strong shoulders and good hip control.
The audience gasped when she moved from a handstand into a perfect flare.
pattern: moved from X into + a flare
It took Kenji over a year to master the flare movement on the floor exercise.
- perform a flare
- do a flare
- master the flare
- clean flare
- perfect flare
- circle
A broader term for any circular leg movement in gymnastics; 'flare' is a specific type of circle with legs wide apart.
Grammar Patterns
perform + a flare
do + a flare
Usage Note
Usually appears with 'perform', 'do', or 'master'; most common in discussions of pommel horse or floor exercise routines.
Common Mistakes
8. A sudden, powerful release of energy and light that happens on the sun and can d
A sudden, powerful release of energy and light that happens on the sun and can disrupt radio communications and satellite systems on Earth.
A large solar flare hit Earth's magnetic field early this morning.
subject: solar flare + verb: hit + object
Scientists warned that the solar flare could disrupt mobile phone signals.
that-clause after 'warned'
Astrid watched a news report about the solar flare affecting satellites in orbit.
The solar flare released a burst of radiation that reached our planet within hours.
relative clause: radiation that reached
Radio operators noticed unusual noise during the solar flare on Tuesday.
- solar flare
- large flare
- powerful flare
- major flare
- flare activity
- flare event
- solar eruption
A broader term that can include coronal mass ejections; 'solar flare' specifically refers to the bright burst of electromagnetic radiation.
Grammar Patterns
solar flare + verb
a + flare + of + radiation/energy
Usage Note
Often shortened to 'flare' when the context is clearly about the sun; otherwise commonly preceded by 'solar' for clarity.
Common Mistakes
9. A sudden, strong display of a feeling such as anger, excitement, jealousy, or ho
A sudden, strong display of a feeling such as anger, excitement, jealousy, or hope, often visible in a person's expression or behaviour.
A flare of anger crossed his face when he heard the unfair comment.
flare of anger + crossed + face
The news brought a sudden flare of hope to the waiting families.
inanimate subject: news + brought + flare of hope
Faisal tried to hide the flare of jealousy when his friend won the prize.
There was a brief flare of excitement as the winning goal was scored.
existential: there was + flare of excitement
Renata's flare of temper faded quickly once she understood the mistake.
- flare of anger
- flare of temper
- flare of jealousy
- flare of excitement
- flare of hope
- brief flare
- sudden flare
Grammar Patterns
a + flare + of + emotion noun (anger/jealousy/hope/excitement)
Usage Note
Typically followed by 'of' and an emotion noun (flare of anger, flare of jealousy, flare of excitement). Unlike 'outburst', 'flare' suggests the feeling appears and fades quickly.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- flaredadjectiveB2
- flaringadjectiveB2
- flare-upnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All four words refer to something that communicates a warning, but they differ in medium and purpose. A 'flare' is a brightly burning device, typically pyrotechnic, used for distress signals — it is the only one that produces actual fire or light as its primary means of communication. 'Beacon' usually refers to a fixed, steady light source used for navigation or guidance (e.g., a lighthouse beacon, a radio beacon), rather than an emergency call for help. 'Signal' is far broader — it can be a gesture, a sound, a flag, or an electronic transmission; a flare is one type of signal, but not all signals are flares. 'Alarm' focuses on the warning itself (often a sound or electronic alert) and carries a sense of urgency or danger; you set off an alarm, but you fire a flare. In short: a flare says 'I need rescue right now' with a bright visual; a beacon says 'this is here to guide you'; a signal is any transmitted message; an alarm says 'something is wrong' and is often audible.
Common collocations
Etymology
Flare first appeared in English in the mid-1500s meaning 'to spread out' or 'display', likely coming from Middle Dutch 'vleren' (to spread) or from Old Norse 'flara' (to flicker, flutter). By the 1600s it had developed the sense of 'sudden bright burning', as a fire that spreads outwards in a gust of wind. From this came the modern uses: a signal light (1800s, from the bright burn), a sudden worsening (from the idea of fire re-igniting), and the widening shape in clothing (from the original meaning of spreading outward). The gymnastics and sports terms are 20th-century extensions of the 'widening' or 'sudden burst' ideas.