flare

flare¹ [fleə US fler] v

1.) also flare up

to suddenly begin to burn, or to burn more brightly for a short time

▪ The fire flared up again.

2.) [i]also flare up

if strong feelings flare or flare up, people suddenly become angry, violent etc

▪ Rioting has flared up in several northern towns.

▪ Tempers flared during the debate.

3.) [i]also flare up

if a disease or illness flares up, it suddenly becomes worse

▪ The injury has flared up again, keeping him out of today's game.

4.) [I and T]

if a person or animal flares their ↑nostrils (=the openings at the end of the nose) , or if their nostrils flare, their nostrils become wider because they are angry

▪ The bull flared its nostrils and charged.

5.) [I always + adverb/preposition]

if a piece of clothing flares out, it becomes wider at one end

flare out

▪ The dress flares out from the hips.

>flared[i] adj

▪ flared jeans

flare ²

flare² n

1.)

a piece of equipment that produces a bright flame, or the flame itself, used outdoors as a signal

▪ The distress flares were spotted by another ship.

2.) [C usually singular]

a sudden bright flame

▪ There was a brief flare as the match was lit.

3.) flares [plural]

trousers that become wide below the knee