Bloom

Bloom is a noun and verb that refers to the flowering of a plant; the period when blossoms open is called the bloom. The term is used broadly to describe any flowering stage in many plant species, including fruit trees and ornamental plants. The timing, duration, and intensity of blooms, a field of study known as phenology, are influenced by temperature, daylight, and cultivar traits.

In botany and horticulture, blooming is a reproductive phase that attracts pollinators and enables seed production. Different species show different bloom patterns—early or late season, single or multiple waves—and gardeners often select varieties for extended or intensified bloom.

Algal bloom: In aquatic ecosystems, an algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of algae in a water body. Triggers include nutrient pollution (nitrogen and phosphorus), warm temperatures, and stable water. Some blooms are harmless; others, especially cyanobacterial or harmful algal blooms, can produce toxins and deplete oxygen.

Bloom filter: In computer science, a Bloom filter is a probabilistic data structure used to test whether an element is not in a set. It can yield false positives but never false negatives, enabling space-efficient membership tests in databases, networks, and large-scale systems.

Bloom in imaging: In photography and computer graphics, bloom refers to a glow surrounding bright light sources, caused by light scattering in lenses or simulated in rendering to convey intense light.

Other uses: The term also appears as a surname or given name and in titles of works or brands; its meaning varies with context.