blaze1
n.
- a very large or fiercely burning fire.
- a very bright light or display of colour.
▸a conspicuous display or outburst of something:
they broke up in a blaze of publicity.
-
(blazes)
informal used as a euphemism for ‘hell’.
v.
- burn or shine fiercely or brightly.
- shoot repeatedly or indiscriminately.
Phrase
- like blazes
informal very fast or forcefully.
Derivative
- blazing adj.
- blazingly adv.
Etymology
OE blæse ‘torch, bright fire’, of Gmc origin.
blaze2
n.
- a white stripe down the face of a horse or other animal.
- a cut made on a tree to mark a route.
v.
(
blaze a trail)
mark out a path or route.
▸be the first to do something; pioneer.
Etymology
C17: ult. of Gmc origin; rel. to blaze1, and prob. to blemish.
blaze3
v.
present (news) in a prominent or sensational manner.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘blow out on a trumpet’): from Mid. Low Ger. or MDu. blāzen ‘to blow’; rel. to blow1.