Main Entry: ¹bal·loon

Pronunciation: \bə-ˈlün\

Function: noun

Etymology: French ballon large football, balloon, from Italian dial. ballone large football, augmentative of balla ball, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball — more at ball

Date: 1783

1 : a nonporous bag of light material that can be inflated especially with air or gas: as a : a bag that is filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (as a gondola with passengers) b : an inflatable bag (as of rubber or plastic) usually used as a toy or for decoration
2 : the outline enclosing words spoken or thought by a figure especially in a cartoon