flare (flares plural & 3rd person present) (flaring present participle) (flared past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A flare is a small device that produces a bright flame. Flares are used as signals, for example on ships.
...a ship which had fired a distress flare.
2 verb If a fire flares, the flames suddenly become larger.
Camp fires flared like beacons in the dark. V
Flare up means the same as flare., phrasal verb
Don't spill too much fat on the barbecue as it could flare up. V P
3 verb If something such as trouble, violence, or conflict flares, it starts or becomes more violent.
Even as the President appealed for calm, trouble flared in several American cities. V
Flare up means the same as flare., phrasal verb
Dozens of people were injured as fighting flared up. V P
4 verb If people's tempers flare, they get angry.
Tempers flared and harsh words were exchanged. V
5 verb If someone's nostrils flare or if they flare them, their nostrils become wider, often because the person is angry or upset.
I turned to Jacky, my nostrils flaring in disgust... V
He stuck out his tongue and flared his nostrils. V n
6 verb If something such as a dress flares, it spreads outwards at one end to form a wide shape.
...a simple black dress, cut to flare from the hips. V
7 n-plural Flares are trousers that are very wide at the bottom.
also a pair of N
8 →
flared flare up phrasal verb If a disease or injury flares up, it suddenly returns or becomes painful again. Students often find that their acne flares up before and during exams. V P →
flare 2, 3 →
flare-up
flare-up (flare-ups plural )If there is a flare-up of violence or of an illness, it suddenly starts or gets worse. n-count usu a N of/in n
There's been a flare-up of violence in South Africa.
