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   Bal·loon

   /bəˈlo͞on/

   

   noun

   • 1. a brightly colored rubber sac that is inflated with air and then sealed at the neck, used as a children's toy or a decoration: "the room was festooned with balloons and streamers"
   • ▪ a small inflatable bag that is inflated inside a hollow organ, typically to close or distend it.
   • 2. a large bag filled with hot air or gas to make it rise in the air, typically carrying a basket for passengers: "he set his sights on crossing the Pacific by balloon"
   • 3. a rounded outline in which the words or thoughts of characters in a comic strip or cartoon are written: "a balloon reading “Ka-Pow!”"
   • 4. a large rounded drinking glass, used for brandy and other drinks: "a balloon of armagnac"

   verb

   • 1. swell out in a spherical shape; billow: "the trousers ballooned out below his waist" Similar swell (out)puff out/upbulge (out)bagbelly (out)fill (out)billow (out)blow upinflatedistendexpanddilateOpposite sagflap
   • ▪ (of an amount of money) increase rapidly: "the company's debt has ballooned in the last five years" Similar increase rapidlysoarrocketshoot upescalatemountsurgespiralgrow rapidlyrise rapidlyinformal:go through the ceilinggo through the roofskyrocketOpposite plummet
   • ▪ (of a person) increase rapidly and dramatically in weight: "I had ballooned on the school's starchy diet"
   • 2. travel by hot-air balloon: "he is famous for ballooning across oceans"

   Word Origin late 16th century (originally denoting a game played with a large inflated leather ball): from French ballon or Italian ballone ‘large ball’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • B

     3

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

   • L

     1

   • O

     1

   • O

     1

   • N

     1

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