bloomy

Bloomy is an English adjective with two principal senses. It describes something that is covered with blossoms or characterized by abundant flowers, as in a bloomy garden. It can also describe a state that resembles being in bloom, suggesting vitality or flourishing. In everyday and literary usage, bloomy tends to appear in descriptive or poetic prose rather than formal technical writing; more neutral terms in horticulture are in bloom or flowering.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from bloom, with the adjectival suffix -y, forming an adjective that implies fullness of blossoms. It appears in older and regional English poetry and prose and remains attested mainly in descriptive passages.

Usage notes: In modern horticultural practice, bloomy is uncommon; botanists and gardeners typically say a plant is in bloom or flowering, or describe a cultivar as floriferous or bloom-laden. The term can carry a slightly archaic or lyrical tone.

Other senses: Bloomy can also describe a healthy, rosy complexion or a general sense of vitality, though this sense is less common in contemporary prose. In such uses, it shares semantic ground with blooming or florid.

See also: bloom, flowering, floriferous, floriculture.