flares: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Everyday (fashion); Technical (astronomy/medicine); Neutral (general).
Quick answer
What does “flares” mean?
Narrow trousers that widen significantly below the knee. Also, bright bursts of light or fire.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Narrow trousers that widen significantly below the knee. Also, bright bursts of light or fire.
Used as a noun to describe a style of trousers, as well as sudden, temporary increases in light or intensity (e.g., solar flares, flare-ups of emotion/illness). As a verb, it means to burn or shine with a sudden intensity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In fashion, 'flares' is common in UK English; US English often uses 'bell-bottoms' interchangeably. 'Flare-ups' (of conflict/disease) is equally common in both.
Connotations
UK: Strong 1970s fashion association. US: Can also strongly connote military/safety signals (e.g., distress flares).
Frequency
'Flares' (trousers) has higher frequency in UK pop culture/media. In technical contexts (astronomy, medicine), frequency is equal.
Grammar
How to Use “flares” in a Sentence
[flare up] (intransitive phrasal verb)[flare] + [nostrils/eyes] (transitive verb)[send up/shoot] + [a flare] (verb + object)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flares” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Her temper could flare without warning.
- The fire began to flare in the strong wind.
American English
- His nostrils flared in anger.
- The conflict flared up again last night.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in 'flare-up of tensions' affecting markets.
Academic
Common in astronomy ('solar flares'), medicine ('disease flares'), and sociology ('flare-ups of violence').
Everyday
Primarily fashion ('She loves wearing flares') and describing sudden emotions/events ('Tempers flared during the debate').
Technical
Astronomy, aviation (flare landing), medicine, signalling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flares”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flares”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flares”
- Incorrect: 'He wore a flare.' Correct: 'He wore flares.' (trousers are plural)
- Incorrect: 'The sun had a flare.' (ambiguous). Correct: 'The sun emitted a solar flare.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern usage, they are synonymous. Historically, 'bell-bottoms' originated in naval uniforms, while 'flares' is a later fashion term describing the shape.
Yes, commonly. 'Tempers flared' or 'Violence flared' are standard phrases meaning emotions/intensity increased suddenly.
Because we refer to a pair of trousers. Similar to 'jeans', 'shorts', or 'tights', the garment itself is considered plural.
It's the final stage of landing where the pilot raises the aircraft's nose to reduce descent rate just before touchdown.
Narrow trousers that widen significantly below the knee. Also, bright bursts of light or fire.
Flares is usually everyday (fashion); technical (astronomy/medicine); neutral (general). in register.
Flares: in British English it is pronounced /fleəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /flerz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tempers flare”
- “flare into life”
- “flare up (of pain/illness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Flares on trousers FLARE outwards, just like a sudden flame FLARES up brightly.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENSITY IS HEAT/BRIGHTNESS (e.g., 'Tempers flared', 'Trouble flared').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'flares' most likely refer to clothing?