intr.v. blushed, blush·ing, blush·es 1. To become red in the face, especially from modesty, embarrassment, or shame; flush. 2. To become red or rosy. 3. To feel embarrassed or ashamed: blushed at his own audacity. n. 1. A reddening of the face, especially from modesty, embarrassment, or shame. 2. A red or rosy color: the blush of dawn. 3. A glance, look, or view: thought the painting genuine at first blush. 4. Makeup used on the face and especially on the cheekbones to give a usually rosy tint. Also called blusher. [Middle English blushen, from Old English blyscan; see bhel-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] blushful adj. blushing·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.