WordWeb Online

1. A shape that spreads outward
   "the skirt had a wide flare";
   - flair [non-standard]
    
2. A sudden burst of flame
    
3. A burst of light used to communicate or illuminate
   - flash
    
4. Reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation
    
5. A sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms
   "a colitis flare"; "infection can cause a lupus flare"
    
6. A sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference
   - solar flare
    
7. An unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection)
    
8. A sudden outburst of emotion
   "she felt a flare of delight"; "she could not control her flare of rage"
    
9. A device that produces a bright light for warning, illumination or identification
    
10. A short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines
    "he threw a flare to the fullback who was tackled for a loss";
    - flare pass
     
11. (baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield

1. Burn brightly
   "Every star seemed to flare with new intensity";
   - flame up, blaze up, burn up
    
2. Become flared and widen, usually at one end
   "The bellbottom pants flare out";
   - flare out
    
3. Shine with a sudden light
   "The night sky flared with the massive bombardment";
   - flame
    
4. Erupt or intensify suddenly
   "Tempers flared at the meeting"; "Unrest flared up in the country";
   - erupt, irrupt, flare up, break open, burst out

Sounds like: fizz, plare, f

Derived forms: flared, flaring, flares

Type of: aerial, attack, beam, blowup [informal], blow-up [informal], burn, combust, deepen, device, ebullition, effusion, erythroderma, fire, flame, flaming, fly, fly ball, form, forward pass, gush, intensify, outburst, reflection, reflexion [Brit], shape, shine, solar radiation, visual signal, widen

Encyclopedia: Flare