English Explanatory Dictionary

balloon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible.
  2. Such an object as a child’s toy or party decoration.
  3. Such an object designed to transport people or equipment through the air.
  4. A sac inserted into part of the body for therapeutic reasons; such as angioplasty.
  5. A speech bubble.
  6. A wide rounded glass with a stem and foot, used for wine, brandy, etc.
  7. A ball or globe on the top of a pillar, church, etc.
  8. A round vessel, usually with a short neck, to hold or receive whatever is distilled; a glass vessel of a spherical form.
  9. A bomb or shell.
  10. A game played with a large inflated ball.
  11. The outline enclosing words represented as coming from the mouth of a pictured figure.
  12. A woman's breast.
verb
  1. To increase or expand rapidly.
  2. To go up or voyage in a balloon.
  3. To take up in, or as if in, a balloon.
  4. To inflate like a balloon.
  5. To strike (a ball) so that it flies high in the air.
  6. Of an aircraft: to plunge alternately up and down.

Pronunciation

/bəˈluːn/ /bəˈlun/ En-us-balloon.ogg

Word forms

balloon balloons ballooning ballooned

Etymology

First use appears c. 1591, "a game played with a large, inflated leather ball" (possibly via Middle French ballon) from Italian pallone (“large ball”) from palla (“ball”), from Lombardic *palla. The Northern Italian form, balla (“ball-shaped bundle”), today a doublet, likely derived from Old French balle, from Frankish *balla (“ball”), and may have influenced the spelling of this word. Both Germanic words are from Proto-Germanic *ballô (“ball”), *balluz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰoln- (“bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, swell, inflate”). Akin to Old High German ballo, bal (“ball”), (German Ballen (“bale”); Ball "ball"). Doublet of ballon. More at ball.

Synonyms

toy balloon speech bubble fumetto ballon assets babylons balloons baps badonkers bangers bazongas bazookas bazoombas bazooms bewbs bobas booba boobage boobs boobers boobies boosies bosom breasts breasticles breasties bristols bubby bubs bust calcium cannons cans cantaloupes casabas charlies chebs chesticles chest melons chichis coconuts diddy ding-dongs dirty pillows double Ds dugs frontage front bumpers funbags gazongas girls globes grapefruits headlights honkers hooters itty-bittys jahoobies jigglies jubblies jugs

Related words

airship ball ballonet blimp dirigible gondola zeppelin

Derived words

anger balloon antiballoon antiballooner balloonacy balloon animal balloon apron balloon arch balloon artist balloonatic balloon back balloon-back balloon barrage balloon berry balloon buster balloon carrier balloon clock balloon club balloon column balloon debate balloon dog balloon drop ballooner balloonfish balloon flower balloon frame balloonful balloon goes up balloon head ballooning balloonish balloonism balloonist balloon juice balloon knot balloonless balloonlike balloon loop balloon mail balloon modelling balloon net balloon payment balloon plant balloon release balloonry balloon sail balloon sinuplasty balloon stick balloon syndrome balloon tender balloon tire balloon tyre balloon vine balloony ballute barrage balloon chimney balloon cryoballoon dialog balloon dialogue balloon fire balloon
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