balloon

A thin rubber bag filled with air or gas, used as a toy or decoration.

• She held a red balloon.
• We filled the room with balloons.
• My balloon burst when it touched the fence.

Common phrases: birthday balloon, blow up a balloon, balloon on a string

A bag filled with gas or hot air that floats, sometimes carrying people or equipment.

• The balloon rose above the fields.
• A weather balloon carried instruments into the sky.
• They crossed the valley in a balloon.

Common phrases: hot air balloon, weather balloon, balloon flight

A round decoration at the top of a building or column.

• A stone balloon crowns the pillar.
• Workers repaired the balloon above the church dome.
• The architect placed a golden balloon on the roof.

Similar words: globe

Common phrases: stone balloon, balloon ornament

To become much larger or increase very quickly.

• Costs began to balloon.
• Her workload ballooned after two colleagues left.
• The repair bill has ballooned to three thousand pounds.

How to use it: balloon to something (The cost ballooned to twice the original estimate.); balloon from A to B (The debt ballooned from ten thousand to fifty thousand dollars.)

Similar words: grow, expand, soar

Opposites: shrink

Common phrases: costs balloon, balloon in size, balloon to something, prices balloon