balloon

American  

[buh-loon] / bəˈlun /

noun

1. a bag made of thin rubber or other light material, usually brightly colored, inflated with air or with some lighter-than-air gas and used as a children's plaything or as a decoration.

2. a bag made of a light material, as silk or plastic, filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air, designed to rise and float in the atmosphere and often having a car or gondola attached below for carrying passengers or scientific instruments.

3. (in drawings, cartoons, etc.) a balloon-shaped outline enclosing words represented as issuing from the mouth of the speaker.

4. an ornamental ball at the top of a pillar, pier, or the like.

5. a large, globular wineglass.

6. Chemistry Now Rare. a round-bottomed flask.

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verb (used without object)

1. to go up or ride in a balloon.

2. to swell or puff out like a balloon.

3. to multiply or increase at a rapid rate.

   Membership has ballooned beyond all expectations.

verb (used with object)

1. to fill with air; inflate or distend (something) like a balloon.

adjective

1. puffed out like a balloon.

   balloon sleeves.

2. Finance. (of a loan, mortgage, or the like) having a payment at the end of the term that is much bigger than previous ones.

balloon British  

/ bəˈluːn /

noun

1. an inflatable rubber bag of various sizes, shapes, and colours: usually used as a plaything or party decoration

2. a large impermeable bag inflated with a lighter-than-air gas, designed to rise and float in the atmosphere. It may have a basket or gondola for carrying passengers, etc See also barrage balloon hot-air balloon

3. a circular or elliptical figure containing the words or thoughts of a character in a cartoon

4. 1. a kick or stroke that propels a ball high into the air

   2. ( as modifier )

      a balloon shot

5. chem a round-bottomed flask

6. a large rounded brandy glass

7. commerce

   1. a large sum paid as an irregular instalment of a loan repayment

   2. ( as modifier )

      a balloon loan

8. surgery

   1. an inflatable plastic tube used for dilating obstructed blood vessels or parts of the alimentary canal

   2. ( as modifier )

      balloon angioplasty

9. informal to be completely unsuccessful or unpopular

10. informal when the trouble or action begins

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verb

1. (intr) to go up or fly in a balloon

2. (intr) to increase or expand significantly and rapidly

   losses ballooned to £278 million

3. to inflate or be inflated; distend; swell

   the wind ballooned the sails

4. (tr) to propel (a ball) high into the air

balloon Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing balloon

• go over (like a lead balloon)
• trial balloon

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Other Word Forms

• balloon-like adjective
• ballooning noun
• balloonist noun
• balloonlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of balloon

1570–80; < Upper Italian ballone, equivalent to ball ( a ) (< Langobardic; ball ¹ ) + -one augmentative suffix; or < Middle French ballon < Upper Italian

Example Sentences

I tugged my boots on and tucked the ballooning black fabric into the tops.

From Literature

As of September, the cost of full compensation has ballooned, with insurers getting bills for at least $12 billion so far from the trust, several times the $3.6 billion previously forecast.

From The Wall Street Journal

The yellow metal is well-positioned to shine in 2026, they say, citing factors including ballooning global debt loads, Federal Reserve policy and potential volatility shocks.

From The Wall Street Journal

A shadow fleet of vessels that transports this sanctioned oil has ballooned to a fifth of global deadweight tonnage, data from maritime journal Lloyd’s List shows.

From The Wall Street Journal

The experiences of both couples reflect a new reality about the Sunshine State: Its older population is transforming as the state’s costs of living balloon.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• enlarge
• expand
• inflate
• swell