Definition of flare noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary



    BrE BrE//fleə(r)//
    ; NAmE NAmE//fler//
    Describing clothes
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  1. 1[usually singular] a bright but unsteady light or flame that does not last long The flare of the match lit up his face.
  2. 2a device that produces a bright flame, used especially as a signal; a flame produced in this way The ship sent up distress flares to attract the attention of the coastguard. A flare lit up the sky.
  3. 3a shape that becomes gradually wider a skirt with a slight flare
  4. 4 flares (British English also flared trousers) [plural] (informal) trousers/pants that become very wide at the bottom of the legs a pair of flares See related entries: Describing clothes
  5. Word Origin mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘spread out one's hair’): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th cent.Extra examples Flares lit up the night sky. If they did not see a green flare in ten minutes, they were to launch the attack. Radiation comes from the sun during solar flares. She felt a sudden flare of anger. The bomber dropped a flare to illuminate the target. The flare to mark the start of the attack went up at 0440. The ship’s crew sent up a distress flare. There was a sudden flare as a fuel tank exploded. They could see orange flares burning in the distance.
See the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary entry: flare