free-blooming
|free-bloom-ing|
/ˌfriːˈbluːmɪŋ/
blooming freely
Etymology
'free-blooming' originates from English, formed as a compound of 'free' and 'blooming', where 'free' (Old English 'frēo') originally meant 'not bound' or 'noble' and 'bloom' (Old English 'blōma') meant 'a flower or state of flowering'.
'free' and 'bloom' are Old English in origin; the modern compound 'free-blooming' is a descriptive formation in modern English combining these existing words to describe abundant or unrestricted flowering.
Initially, 'free' and 'bloom' carried their separate senses; the compound developed the specialized horticultural sense of 'blooming abundantly' or 'blooming throughout the season'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
producing an abundance of flowers; flowering profusely.
The rose cultivar is free-blooming, covering the bush in flowers all summer.
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Adjective 2
tending to bloom repeatedly or continuously over a long season (horticultural usage).
Gardeners prefer free-blooming varieties for a long season of color.
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Last updated: 2026/01/04 20:43