snowball

American  

[snoh-bawl] / ˈsnoʊˌbɔl /

noun

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

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

3. 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.

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

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verb (used with object)

1. to throw snowballs at.

2. 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)

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

snowball British  

/ ˈsnəʊˌbɔːl /

noun

1. snow pressed into a ball for throwing, as in play

2. a drink made of advocaat and lemonade

3. slang a mixture of heroin and cocaine

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

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verb

1. (intr) to increase rapidly in size, importance, etc

   their woes have snowballed since last year

2. (tr) to throw snowballs at

Etymology

Origin of snowball

1350–1400; Middle English (noun); snow, ball ¹

Example Sentences

Many are ephemeral; fleeting leaf sculptures that blow away into the forest or giant snowballs placed in the city of London which melted to disclose sticks and stones.

From BBC

“You could have a very serious snowball effect that could threaten Silicon Valley’s primacy.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Most of her debts snowballed from being unable to pay essential bills such as utilities, council tax and rent.

From BBC

New Yorkers take part in a snowball fight in Brooklyn's McCarren Park, as a major winter storm sweeps through vast expanses of the United States.

From Barron's

“I feel like once we got hit and some of the other shops got hit it created a snowball effect.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• escalate
• heighten
• intensify
• multiply
• proliferate
• swell
• widen