balloon
balloon Lexical Profile
balloon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A brightly colored, flexible bag inflated with air or a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, typically used as a toy or decoration.
"We decorated the living room with streamers and helium balloons for her birthday party."
A large, strong envelope filled with hot air or gas that is lighter than air, designed to rise and float in the atmosphere, often carrying passengers or instruments in a suspended basket.
"The hot-air balloon drifted peacefully over the vineyards at sunrise."
An outlined area, typically rounded in shape, containing the spoken words or thoughts of a character in a comic strip or cartoon.
"The artist used a jagged thought balloon to indicate that the villain was planning something sinister."
• verb
To increase rapidly and significantly in size, amount, volume, or importance.
"The project's budget ballooned far beyond initial expectations due to unforeseen complications."
To swell or puff out into a rounded shape resembling an inflated balloon.
"His parachute ballooned above him, rapidly slowing his descent."
To fly, travel, or ascend in a hot-air balloon.
"They spent their anniversary ballooning over the picturesque valleys of Cappadocia."
• Rhymes for balloon
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From the French 'ballon' and Italian 'pallone' (meaning 'large ball'), derived from 'palla' (ball) combined with the augmentative suffix '-one'. First used in English in the 1570s for a game played with a large inflated leather ball.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.