flared

The term flared describes something that widens outward from a center or base, producing a spreading shape or end. It can also describe a feature that has a flare, such as a flame or light becoming bright. The word derives from flare, meaning to blaze or widen suddenly.

In fashion and textiles, flared refers to garments with a widening silhouette from the waist or thigh to the hem, such as flared trousers, skirts, or sleeves. The style contrasts with straight-leg or tapered garments and is associated with certain fashion eras, notably the 1960s and 1970s, and with contemporary designs that exaggerate the flare. The degree of flare ranges from subtle to dramatic.

In engineering and piping, a flare is a method of joining tubing by forming a conical end that fits with a flare nut or coupling. Tubing ends are flared using a tool; common standards include single flare and double flare. Fittings may involve copper, aluminum, or steel, and provide a sealed, disconnect-friendly connection in many plumbing and refrigeration systems.

In biology, nasal flaring refers to the widening of one or both nostrils during heavy breathing or respiratory distress. It is a visible sign used in clinical assessment, especially in infants and young children.

In optics and photography, lens flare is a visual artifact caused by stray light; environments or lenses described as flared may show flare patterns that brighten or haze an image.

Flares are also signaling devices that burn with intense light for signaling, illumination, or emergency use. While the noun flare is common, the past participle flared is used to describe equipment or effects that have been deployed or produced, such as a flared distress signal from a signaling device.