pre-bloom
|pre-bloom|
/ˌpriːˈbluːm/
before flowering
Etymology
'pre-bloom' is a modern English compound formed from the prefix 'pre-' and the noun 'bloom'; 'pre-' ultimately comes from Latin 'prae' meaning 'before', and 'bloom' comes from Old English 'blōma' meaning 'flower or blossom'.
'pre-' entered English as a productive prefix from Latin 'prae' via Old French/Latin influence, while 'bloom' evolved from Old English 'blōma' to Middle English 'blome' and then modern 'bloom'; the compound 'pre-bloom' is a recent, transparent formation in modern English combining these elements.
The components originally meant 'before' (pre-) and 'flower/flowering' (bloom); combined, the meaning has remained straightforward and still denotes the time or state before flowering.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a period or phase occurring before flowers open (the time just prior to blooming).
During the pre-bloom we checked bud development every morning.
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Adjective 1
existing or occurring before the flowers open; prior to the blooming stage.
The pre-bloom buds are especially sensitive to late frosts.
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Last updated: 2026/01/12 13:40