26984 words

balloon

12 definitions • 15 examples
1
a small, thin rubber bag that you blow air into or fill with a light gas until it is round in shape, used for decoration, as a children's toy, or for other purposes such as medical treatment or scientific research :

Examples:

We tied balloons and streamers to the ceiling ready for the party.
Angioplasty is a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to stretch open a narrow or blocked artery.
2
a very large balloon that is filled with hot air or gas and can carry people in a basket (= open container ) hanging under it:

Examples:

People first flew in a balloon in 1783.
3
a round shape drawn next to the head of a character in a cartoon (= a story or joke told using drawings), in which the character's words or thoughts are written :

Examples:

The words appear inside a cartoon-style balloon hovering above the figures.
He produced many of the best-known images of American Pop Art, especially frames from comic books complete with speech balloons.
You can edit the photos, for example by adding thought balloons.
4

Examples:

Medical costs are likely to balloon for families as life spans increase.
The rumours soon ballooned into a full-blown scandal.
5
to get bigger and rounder, usually by filling with air:

Examples:

The silk of the parachute ballooned above me.
6
to travel using a hot-air balloon:

Examples:

He planned to become the first person to balloon over the North Pole.
7
a small, thin, rubber bag that you can fill with air or another gas until it is round in shape, often used for decoration at parties or as a child’s toy
8
A balloon is also a very large, round container filled with a gas that can rise in the air and carry people riding under it in an attached box.
9

Examples:

The rumors soon ballooned into (= quickly became) a full-grown scandal.
10
a type of loan that is paid back in regular small payments with a final larger payment:

Examples:

What we're seeing are interest-only, balloon mortgages with no money down.
Only select a balloon over an adjustable rate mortgage if you are sure that you will be able to meet the final payment.
11
a

Examples:

Some borrowers may not be informed that balloon payments lurk ahead.
12

Examples:

The decline in sales to America caused the goods trade deficit to balloon to a record £4 billion.

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