Blush — Defs

01 v. i. To become suffused with red in the cheeks, as from a sense of shame, modesty, or confusion; to become red from such cause, as the cheeks or face.

imp. & p. p. Blushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blushing

1.
To become suffused with red in the cheeks, as from a sense of shame, modesty, or confusion; to become red from such cause, as the cheeks or face.
“To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the morn.” — Milton.

“In the presence of the shameless and unblushing, the young offender is ashamed to blush.” — Buckminster.

“He would stroke The head of modest and ingenuous worth, That blushed at its own praise.” — Cowper.
2.
To grow red; to have a red or rosy color.
“The sun of heaven, methought, was loth to set, But stayed, and made the western welkin blush.” — Shak.
3.
To have a warm and delicate color, as some roses and other flowers.
“Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.” — T. Gray.

02 v. t. To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make roseate.

1.
To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make roseate.[Obs.]
“To blush and beautify the cheek again.” — Shak.
2.
To express or make known by blushing.
“I'll blush you thanks.” — Shak.

03 n. A suffusion of the cheeks or face with red, as from a sense of shame, confusion, or modesty.

1.
A suffusion of the cheeks or face with red, as from a sense of shame, confusion, or modesty.
“The rosy blush of love.” — Trumbull.
2.
A red or reddish color; a rosy tint.
“Light's last blushes tinged the distant hills.” — Lyttleton.

Phrases & compounds

At first blush — at the first appearance or view.

To put to the blush — to cause to blush with shame; to put to shame.