ballooning

bal·loon  (b-ln)

n.

1.

a. A flexible bag designed to be inflated with hot air or with a gas, such as helium, that is lighter than the surrounding air, causing it to rise and float in the atmosphere.

b. Such a bag with sufficient capacity to lift and transport a suspended gondola or other load.

c. Such a bag shaped like a figure or object when inflated; an inflatable.

2. A usually round or oblong inflatable rubber bag used as a toy.

3. Medicine A sac that is inserted into a body cavity or tube and distended with air or gas for therapeutic purposes, such as angioplasty.

4. A rounded or irregularly shaped outline containing the words that a character in a cartoon is represented to be saying.

v. bal·looned, bal·loon·ing, bal·loons

v.intr.

1. To ascend or ride in a balloon.

2. To expand or swell out like a balloon. See Synonyms at bulge.

3. To increase or rise quickly.

v.tr.

To cause to expand by or as if by inflating.

adj.

Suggestive of a balloon, as in shape: balloon curtains.

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[French ballon, from Italian dialectal ballone, augmentative of balla, ball, of Germanic origin; see bhel-² in Indo-European roots.]

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bal·loonist n.

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ballooning

the art and science of operating balloons for sport or air travel. Also balloonry.

See also: Aviation

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

ballooning - flying in a balloon                   flying, flight - an instance of traveling by air; "flying was still an exciting adventure for him"