billow

[bil-oh]

noun

1. a great wave or surge of the sea.

   Synonyms: whitecap, roller, comber, breaker, swell

2. any surging mass.

   billows of smoke.

verb (used without object)

1. to rise or roll in or like billows; surge.

2. to swell out, puff up, etc., as by the action of wind.

   flags billowing in the breeze.

verb (used with object)

1. to make rise, surge, swell, or the like.

   A sudden wind billowed the tent alarmingly.

billow

/ ˈbɪləʊ /

noun

1. a large sea wave

2. a swelling or surging mass, as of smoke or sound

3. a large atmospheric wave, usually in the lee of a hill

4. poetic,  (plural) the sea itself

verb

1. to rise up, swell out, or cause to rise up or swell out

Other Word Forms

• underbillow verb (used without object)
• billowing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of billow¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Old Norse bylgja “wave,” cognate with Middle Low German bulge; akin to Old English gebylgan “to anger, provoke”

Word History and Origins

Origin of billow¹

C16: from Old Norse bylgja ; related to Swedish bōlja , Danish bölg , Middle High German bulge ; see _bellow , _belly

Example Sentences

In video of Tuesday’s incident obtained by The Times, Parias’ vehicle appears to be revving its engine, with a thick cloud of white smoke billowing near its tires.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Smoke billowing in the air could be seen on live feeds from Gaza on Friday morning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Under a blue sky and passing, billowing clouds, Mexico City sits in the far distance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Israeli TV stations broadcast live footage said to be of the drone strike and the area it hit, which showed billowing smoke rising from the site.

Read more on BBC

Each explosion sends clouds of white smoke billowing into a light rain and then up through the trees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• undulate