Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Flourish \Flour"ish\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Flourished}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Flourishing}.] [OE. florisshen, flurisshen, OF.
   flurir, F. fleurir, fr. L. florere to bloom, fr. flos,
   floris, flower. See {Flower}, and {-ish}.]
   1. To grow luxuriantly; to increase and enlarge, as a healthy
      growing plant; a thrive.

            A tree thrives and flourishes in a kindly . . .
            soil.                                 --Bp. Horne.

   2. To be prosperous; to increase in wealth, honor, comfort,
      happiness, or whatever is desirable; to thrive; to be
      prominent and influental; specifically, of authors,
      painters, etc., to be in a state of activity or
      production.

            When all the workers of iniquity do flourish. --Ps.
                                                  xcii 7

            Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that
            by the means of their wickedness.     --Nelson.

            We say Of those that held their heads above the
            crowd, They flourished then or then.  --Tennyson.

   3. To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures
      and lofty expressions; to be flowery.

            They dilate . . . and flourish long on little
            incidents.                            --J. Watts.

   4. To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements,
      by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with
      fantastic and irregular motion.

            Impetuous spread The stream, and smoking flourished
            o'er his head.                        --Pope.

   5. To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write
      graceful, decorative figures.

   6. To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by
      way of ornament or prelude.

            Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus? --Shak.

   7. To boast; to vaunt; to brag. --Pope.

Source : WordNet®

flourishing
     adj 1: having or showing vigorous vegetal or animal life;
            "flourishing crops"; "flourishing chicks"; "a growing
            boy"; "fast-growing weeds"; "a thriving deer
            population" [syn: {growing}, {thriving}]
     2: very lively and profitable; "flourishing businesses"; "a
        palmy time for stockbrokers"; "a prosperous new business";
        "doing a roaring trade"; "a thriving tourist center"; "did
        a thriving business in orchids" [syn: {booming}, {palmy},
        {prospering}, {prosperous}, {roaring}, {thriving}]