Synonyms

pilot balloon

American

noun

a balloon for the visual observation of upper-atmosphere wind currents.

pilot balloon British

noun

a meteorological balloon used to observe air currents

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pilot balloon

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The pilot balloon, that is so soon out of sight, can offer no guidance—don't forget that!

From Luttrell Of Arran Complete by Lever, Charles James

I believe that our master's sortie against Belgium was a pilot balloon.

From Correspondence & Conversations of Alexis de Tocqueville with Nassau William Senior from 1834 to 1859, Volume 2 by Tocqueville, Alexis de

It was an experiment,—a mere pilot balloon to Destiny; and when he saw the direction adverse, he did not adventure on the grand ascent.

From The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II) by Lever, Charles James

My O'D. will, however, serve as a pilot balloon, and if it go up freely we can follow in the same direction.

From Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters, Vol. II by Downey, Edmund

If I have to perform much longer as a pilot balloon, Tom, I 'm thinking I 'm very likely to explode.

From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. I by Lever, Charles James

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023