snowball

[snoh-bawl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR snowball ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a ball of snow pressed or rolled together, as for throwing.

any of several shrubs belonging to the genus Viburnum, of the honeysuckle family, having large clusters of white, sterile flowers.

a confection of crushed ice, usually in the shape of a ball, which is flavored with fruit or other syrup and served in a paper cup.

a scoop or ball of ice cream covered with shredded coconut and usually chocolate sauce.

verb (used with object)

to throw snowballs at.

to cause to grow or become larger, greater, more intense, etc., at an accelerating rate: to snowball a small business into a great enterprise.

verb (used without object)

to grow or become larger, greater, more intense, etc., at an accelerating rate.

Origin of snowball

1350–1400; Middle English (noun); see snow, ball¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for snowball

proliferate, widen, escalate, heighten, swell, multiply, intensify, thicken, strengthen, broaden, upsurge, lengthen, reinforce, supplement, redouble, triple, protract, further, sharpen, distend

Examples from the Web for snowball

Contemporary Examples of snowball

All of these increased barriers then have a snowball effect.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating
Ellie Schaack
January 1, 2015
Meanwhile, national attention has already started to snowball around the issue.
The NYPD’s Racist War on Pot
Abby Haglage
June 26, 2014
When Chappelle approached them, one of the kids threw a snowball at his face and called him the N-word.
Dave Chappelle’s Triumphant Return to New York City
Alex Suskind
June 19, 2014
“I am afraid we will see a snowball effect in other countries,” said Westeson.
Why Does Spain Love Gay Marriage But Hate Abortion?
Emily Shire
March 7, 2014
Once they begin, they could snowball and reach the major cities of the Hejaz, including Jeddah, Mecca, Taif, and Medina.
Revolution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
Bruce Riedel
January 20, 2013

Historical Examples of snowball

He knew that the whole world is a snowball, and that all the stars are snowballs.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
The snowball missed her, and came with a great bang against the barrel.
Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood
George MacDonald
But they do, and most of them look as dignified as can be, in spite of the snowball.
Galusha the Magnificent
Joseph C. Lincoln
You seem to be aiming at me as directly as a small boy aims his snowball.
The Gorgeous Girl
Nalbro Bartley
Another old-time enjoyment of that date was a snowball fight.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Margaret Moyes Black

British Dictionary definitions for snowball

snowball

noun

snow pressed into a ball for throwing, as in play

a drink made of advocaat and lemonade

slang a mixture of heroin and cocaine

a dance started by one couple who separate and choose different partners. The process continues until all present are dancing

verb

(intr) to increase rapidly in size, importance, etctheir woes have snowballed since last year

(tr) to throw snowballs at

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

Word Origin and History for snowball

c.1400, from snow (n.) + ball (n.1). Cf. West Frisian sniebal, Middle Dutch sneubal, German Schneeball, Danish snebold. Expression snowball's chance (in hell) "no chance" is recorded by 1910.

"to make snowballs," 1680s, from snowball (n.); sense of "to throw snowballs at" (someone) is from 1850. Meaning "to increase rapidly" is attested from 1929, though the image of a snowball increasing in size as it rolls along had been used since at least 1613, and a noun sense of "a pyramid scheme" is attested from 1892. Related: Snowballed; snowballing.