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Definition of balloon

balloon

/bəˈluːn/
bal · loon

Plural:balloons
•
Past Simple:ballooned
•
Past Participle:ballooned
•
Present Participle:ballooning
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balloon Lexical Profile

balloon Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A brightly colored, flexible bag inflated with air or a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, typically used as a toy or decoration.

Example

"We decorated the living room with streamers and helium balloons for her birthday party."


2

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.

Example

"The hot-air balloon drifted peacefully over the vineyards at sunrise."


3

An outlined area, typically rounded in shape, containing the spoken words or thoughts of a character in a comic strip or cartoon.

Example

"The artist used a jagged thought balloon to indicate that the villain was planning something sinister."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To increase rapidly and significantly in size, amount, volume, or importance.

Example

"The project's budget ballooned far beyond initial expectations due to unforeseen complications."


2

To swell or puff out into a rounded shape resembling an inflated balloon.

Example

"His parachute ballooned above him, rapidly slowing his descent."


3

To fly, travel, or ascend in a hot-air balloon.

Example

"They spent their anniversary ballooning over the picturesque valleys of Cappadocia."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for balloon

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.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Balloon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/balloon
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