# flare

> English word · Noun · IPA /flɛə̯/ · frequency rank #12,242

## Definitions
1. A sudden bright light.
2. A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
3. A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
4. A source of brightly burning light or intense heat.
5. A sudden eruption or outbreak; a flare-up.
6. A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.
7. A widening of an object with an otherwise roughly constant width.
8. Bell-bottom trousers.
9. The transition from downward flight to level flight just before landing.
10. A low fly ball that is hit in the region between the infielders and the outfielders.
11. A route run by the running back, releasing toward the sideline and then slightly arcing upfield looking for a short pass.
12. Ellipsis of lens flare.
13. An inflammation such as of tendons (tendonitis) or joints (osteoarthritis).
14. A breakdance move of someone helicoptering his torso on alternating arms.

## Etymology
Origin unknown, first recorded in the mid 16th century, probably related to Latin flagrō (“I burn”). Norwegian flara (“to blaze; to flaunt in gaudy attire”) has a similar meaning, but the English word predates it. Possibly related to Middle High German vlederen (“to flutter”), represented by modern German flattern.
The noun is derived from the verb.

## Easily confused with
- **flat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flat)
- **flee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flee)
- **flaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flaw)
- **flax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flax)
- **flue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flue)
- **flor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flor)
- **frame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-frame)
- **flash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flash)
- **flora** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flora)
- **flirt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flirt)
- **flute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flute)
- **flask** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flask)
- **fluke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-fluke)
- **flume** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flume)
- **flawed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flawed)
- **flares** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flares)
- **Flores** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flores)
- **flared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-flared)
- **folate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flare-vs-folate)
- **far** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/far-vs-flare)

## Common misspellings (7)
`falre`, `fflare`, `flaer`, `flarre`, `fllare`, `flrae`, `lfare`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/flare